surprising
6 synonyms and 6 antonyms for surprising, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Causing a feeling of surprise; unexpected.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
Etymology
From surprise + -ing.
Full origin of surprising →Frequently asked questions
What does “surprising” mean?
The word “surprising” means causing a feeling of surprise; unexpected. In plain terms, unexpected enough to cause astonishment.
How do you pronounce “surprising”?
“Surprising” is pronounced suh-PREYE-zihng (/sɚˈpɹaɪzɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “surprising” in a sentence?
Here is “surprising” used in a sentence: “It was surprising how quickly the flight passed.”
What is the opposite of “surprising”?
The opposite of “surprising” — its antonyms — are commonplace, everyday, expected, humdrum and mundane.
What part of speech is “surprising”?
“Surprising” is an adjective.
Is “surprising” a common word?
“Surprising” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the difference between surprising and shocking?
"Surprising" means simply unexpected and causing a feeling of surprise, and it can be pleasant or neutral. "Shocking" is much stronger, describing something so unexpected or disturbing that it upsets or distresses you.
What is the difference between surprising and astonishing?
Both mean unexpected, but "astonishing" is far stronger than "surprising". Something surprising catches you off guard, while something astonishing is so unexpected that it leaves you amazed or hardly able to believe it.
What is the difference between surprising and amazing?
"Surprising" simply means unexpected and can be positive, negative, or neutral. "Amazing" is almost always positive and means wonderful or impressive. A result can be surprising without being good, but amazing things are admired.