Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He said that while the attack on Iran had been anticipated, its timing and the duration of the war that has ensued were surprising.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

I didn’t think our findings were surprising because we’d been seeing this trend for a while—especially in terms of extremist group activity.

From Slate • Apr. 21, 2025

Foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told reporters on Tuesday that Vance's comments - which had already caused a stir on Chinese social media - were "surprising and sad".

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2025

In an interview, Fleming told Salon his results were surprising because these programs have been so popular.

From Salon • Feb. 13, 2024

The contents were surprising, but the cloth was even more so.

From "The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm" by Nancy Farmer