element of surprise
noun phrase
: the unexpected or surprising character of something
The attackers were relying on the element of surprise.
Examples of element of surprise in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The bottom line: Democrats lost the element of surprise last week with their NLRB gambit.
—
Axios, 18 Dec. 2024
Negro and his team’s latest research suggests instead that the barn owl’s brilliant white plumage is in fact a form of nocturnal camouflage or counter-illumination that gives the hunter an element of surprise.
—Katie Hunt, CNN, 17 Dec. 2024
Details were revealed just 48 hours before the gathering, adding an element of surprise and excitement to the magical night.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 1 Oct. 2024
But casting Janney in this kind of role telegraphs exactly where this story is going to go, which removes an element of surprise from what is supposed to be an urgent and tense series.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for element of surprise 
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Axios, 18 Dec. 2024
Negro and his team’s latest research suggests instead that the barn owl’s brilliant white plumage is in fact a form of nocturnal camouflage or counter-illumination that gives the hunter an element of surprise.
—Katie Hunt, CNN, 17 Dec. 2024
Details were revealed just 48 hours before the gathering, adding an element of surprise and excitement to the magical night.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 1 Oct. 2024
But casting Janney in this kind of role telegraphs exactly where this story is going to go, which removes an element of surprise from what is supposed to be an urgent and tense series.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for element of surprise
Dictionary Entries Near element of surprise
Cite this Entry
“Element of surprise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/element%20of%20surprise. Accessed 2 Jan. 2025.
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