Synonyms and antonyms of Surprises and shocking events in British Thesaurus

surprise (noun)

an unusual or unexpected event

shock (noun)

something that happens unexpectedly and makes you feel very surprised and upset

blow (noun)

an event that causes you to feel very sad, disappointed, or shocked

revelation (noun)

a surprising and enjoyable experience that makes you realize something that you previously had not known

scandal (noun)

a situation that shocks you and makes you angry, especially one that you think someone in authority should change

trauma (noun)

a bad experience that makes you feel very upset, afraid, or shocked

affront (noun)

something insulting that makes you shocked and angry

a rude awakening ()

a shock that comes from learning that what you had believed or expected is not true

a first (adverb)

something that has never happened before and is therefore important or exciting

surprise (noun)

news or information that seems unusual or unexpected

a blinding revelation/realization/vision ()

a situation in which you suddenly realize something very clearly

a bolt from/out of the blue ()

something that surprises you very much because you were not expecting it to happen

affair (noun)

something that happens, especially something shocking, in public or political life

a kick up the backside ()

something that shocks people and makes them decide to try harder

a turn-up for the books (British)

British a surprising event

awakening (noun)

the moment when you first realize or experience something

black swan (noun)

an event that is extremely rare and unexpected but has very significant consequences

bombshell (noun)

informal an event or piece of news that is unexpected and shocking

conversation stopper (noun)

informal something surprising or shocking that you say that makes everyone stop talking and unable to think what to say next

eye-opener (noun)

a situation that shows you something surprising that you did not know before

grey swan (noun)

British an event which is possible and known about, and potentially extremely significant, but considered to be unlikely to happen

incident (noun)

something that happens, especially a violent, criminal, or dangerous event

indecency (noun)

the offensive or shocking nature of something

the joker in the pack ()

someone who may suddenly do something unexpected that changes a situation

jolt (noun)

a shock

manna from heaven ()

something that you need or want very much and that you get unexpectedly

reveal (noun)

the act of revealing something or the thing that is revealed, especially in a story, film etc

revelation (noun)

a surprising piece of information

scandal (noun)

a situation in which important people behave in a dishonest or immoral way that shocks people

shocker (noun)

informal something shocking

thunderbolt (noun)

informal something very surprising or shocking, especially a piece of news

travesty (noun)

a situation, action, or event that shocks you because it is very different from what it should be or because it seems very unfair

whirlwind (noun)

something that happens very quickly and unexpectedly, so that the people involved have little control of what happens and how they feel

zinger (noun)

mainly Americaninformal a surprise, or a shock