as in suddenly
without warning
the thunderstorm caught us unawares, and we scrambled to get off the ridge as lightning started to flash
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Recent Examples of unawares
The author caught unawares on the steps of Perugia's Cattedrale San Lorenzo, bag by his side.
—
Charlie Hobbs, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Sep. 2024
Consequently, Baghdad was caught unawares when protests did break out in the capital and in cities such as Mosul in early February, and its initial response was rather panicked.
—Raad Alkadiri, Foreign Affairs, 3 Mar. 2011
In the case of Hungary, EU leaders may have been caught unawares by Orban’s assaults on democracy.
—R. Daniel Kelemen, Foreign Affairs, 25 Aug. 2016
But then, out of nowhere, the chile peppers will catch you unawares and land a solid uppercut to the kisser.
—Tim Carman, Washington Post, 28 Feb. 2024
See All Example Sentences for unawares
Charlie Hobbs, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Sep. 2024
Consequently, Baghdad was caught unawares when protests did break out in the capital and in cities such as Mosul in early February, and its initial response was rather panicked.
—Raad Alkadiri, Foreign Affairs, 3 Mar. 2011
In the case of Hungary, EU leaders may have been caught unawares by Orban’s assaults on democracy.
—R. Daniel Kelemen, Foreign Affairs, 25 Aug. 2016
But then, out of nowhere, the chile peppers will catch you unawares and land a solid uppercut to the kisser.
—Tim Carman, Washington Post, 28 Feb. 2024
See All Example Sentences for unawares
Cite this Entry
“Unawares.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unawares. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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