1
as in startling
causing a strong emotional reaction because of unexpectedness
the surprising news that they were going to have a baby had them rushing to buy nursery furniture
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in astonishing
causing wonder or astonishment
it's surprising how much knowledge of physics the architects of those immense medieval cathedrals must have had
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
variants
also surprizing
1
as in amazing
to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected
I was very surprised when my parents offered to pay the down payment on our house
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in ambushing
to lie in wait for and attack by surprise
FBI agents surprised the counterfeiters in their own base of operations
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of surprising
Reid J. Epstein, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2025
Apollo Crews defeated Gargano with a rollup, which was surprising.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2025
After surprising with a best actress win at the Golden Globes, Torres’ momentum has only surged since.
—J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 23 Jan. 2025
The comments weren’t surprising to anyone who has been around them the last three years — James has said this a lot — but with the trade deadline coming, the comments were amplified.
—Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for surprising 
Adjective
Patrick Gaspard, the president of the Center for American Progress, a liberal research group, said the lack of Democratic mobilization was not surprising, given that few in the party were shocked by Mr. Trump’s 2024 victory.
—Reid J. Epstein, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2025
Apollo Crews defeated Gargano with a rollup, which was surprising.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2025
After surprising with a best actress win at the Golden Globes, Torres’ momentum has only surged since.
—J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 23 Jan. 2025
The comments weren’t surprising to anyone who has been around them the last three years — James has said this a lot — but with the trade deadline coming, the comments were amplified.
—Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for surprising
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surprising
Adjective
-
Some stats set to be fired off at Content Americas will make for startling viewing.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
20 Jan. 2025
-
The repeat president has just shy of 15 million followers on TikTok, but the appearance of his name on the app’s welcome screen was nevertheless startling to many.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
19 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
And the work of our photographers, often putting themselves in harm’s way, has been astonishing.—
Glenn Whipp,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Jan. 2025
-
Tech entrepreneur Jeff Atwood says wealth inequality in the U.S. is unfair, astonishing and un-American.—
Yaakov Katz,
Newsweek,
17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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So pack your bags and get ready to stay in some of the most amazing cave hotels in the United States and around the world.—
Michelle Mastro,
Architectural Digest,
16 Jan. 2025
-
The ones that look amazing until the light hits just right, and suddenly they’re see-through.—
Boutayna Chokrane,
WIRED,
16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
The melty cheese and crispy bread are a wonderful combination.—
Nick Siano,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 Jan. 2025
-
Away from the bottle-poppers of Mykonos, but hardly removed from the season’s social buzz, the white-washed, flat-roofed villas that wrap the cliffs of Santorini are wonderful places to while away a summer.—
Christopher Cameron,
Robb Report,
27 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Jung-bae wound up in a room of three, with Player 001 and some rando — but Player 001 choked the stranger to death in time to reduce their head count, shocking Jung-bae more than a bit.—
Matt Webb Mitovich,
TVLine,
26 Dec. 2024
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Fox News Digital obtained shocking audio between Cyrus and his estranged wife where the country crooner is heard berating his Australian ex and using profane language.—
Ashley Hume,
Fox News,
26 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Video on social media showed the explosion and its aftermath as remains of the spacecraft are seen breaking up in what looks like a stunning meteor shower.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA TODAY,
18 Jan. 2025
-
The stunning launch of $TRUMP caught the entire industry off-guard, and speaks to both his personal influence and the ascendancy of cryptocurrency in his administration.—
Ben Berkowitz,
Axios,
18 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Not even the most miraculous shot of his life was enough to earn Nikola Jokic the fourth quarter off this time.—
Bennett Durando,
The Denver Post,
24 Jan. 2025
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No, this isn’t a miraculous leadership makeover that infuses you with supernatural energy.—
Liz Guthridge,
Forbes,
23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
The Iowa product laid out and brought in an incredible one-handed grab for the score to put Detroit in front 14-10.—
Kevin Dotson,
CNN,
19 Jan. 2025
-
Inside her was the growing awareness that Sebastien had only been writing her, Dani, out of a sense of duty, all the while hotly suffering a much more grownup correspondence with the incredible Yvonne.—
Sheila Heti,
The New Yorker,
19 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near surprising
Cite this Entry
“Surprising.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surprising. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
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