Synonyms for unexpected
- adjective
Most common
Synonyms by meaning
Adjective
1. Unforeseen
unforeseen, unanticipated, surprising, abrupt, unpredicted, accidental, unannounced, unheralded, casual, unlooked-for, sudden dated
Other
Definitions
- adj. 1
Not expected, anticipated or foreseen.
Related words
- Phrases
- unexpected hanging paradox
Example sentences
- surprising It is surprising how little she knows of the world.
- abrupt Sami's idyllic country life came to an abrupt end.
- unforeseen Insurance protects against unforeseen predicaments.
- unanticipated I arrived late because I ran into some unanticipated traffic.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| unexpected | rising | |
| surprising | steady | |
| abrupt | steady | |
| unforeseen | steady | |
| unanticipated | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 5 letters
- freak1
- 6 letters
- sudden2, casual3, abrupt2
- 7 letters
- unusual4
- 10 letters
- surprising3, accidental4, unforeseen3, unheralded4
- 11 letters
- unannounced3, unpredicted
- 13 letters
- unanticipated6
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (sudden2 = 2 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- inattendu
- Italiano
- inatteso
- Deutsch
- unerwartet