slightest surprised

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "slightest surprised" is not correct in English.
Did you mean "slightly surprised"? You can use "slightly surprised" to express a mild level of surprise about something. Example: "I was slightly surprised to see her at the event, as I didn't expect her to attend."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

And to a Londoner, this came as not the slightest surprise.

The New York Times - Magazine

Bryant can still play, just about, but making his retirement official came as not the slightest surprise.

Independent

For him, there would not be the slightest surprise at the sight of Woods being reunited with the old Claret Jug.

Independent

Blunt told Sky News: "There are no winners in this process, only victims; and that's why I do think the CPS should examine their procedures and the way this prosecution was conducted because the whole process hasn't helped anybody and the verdict has not come as the slightest surprise to me".

The Guardian

For all Tony Blair's striding around with his new best friend (who can forget the excruciating "ball-crushing jeans" shots of the two of them at Camp David?), this was an American war, won, to no one's slightest surprise, by overwhelming American force.

The Guardian - Arts

For virtually anyone who has lived in Japan, none of these revelations the brutality, the cynicism, the pathetic impotence of good people who wish to change the system comes as the slightest surprise.

Forbes

So when the campaign pulled ahead of No in polls a few days later grassroots Yes types were not the slightest bit surprised.

The Economist

Speaking at a drinks reception during the Conservative Party Conference on Monday, Clarke said he was not "the slightest bit surprised" MPs Mark Reckless and Douglas Carswell had defected.

Independent

So when Dorothy threw a bucket of water over the Wicked Witch of the West, she wasn't the slightest bit surprised when she evaporated.

The Guardian - Books

He didn't seem the slightest bit surprised that I was not "European," as though it were a given, to him, that all Danes looked like me, and vice versa.

The New Yorker

I wasn't the slightest bit surprised.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to express a small degree of surprise, use "slightly surprised" or "a little surprised" instead of the grammatically incorrect phrase "slightest surprised".

Common error

Avoid using superlative forms (like "slightest") directly before adjectives (like "surprised") without a proper linking verb or context. This often results in ungrammatical phrases. Rely on more common constructions such as "slightly" or "a little" to express mild feelings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "slightest surprised" is grammatically incorrect, as indicated by Ludwig AI. While "surprised" functions as an adjective, "slightest" should not directly modify it in this manner. Instead, adverbs like "slightly" or "a little" are used to modify adjectives.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "slightest surprised" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided. Ludwig AI confirms its incorrectness. To express a small degree of surprise, opt for grammatically sound alternatives such as "slightly surprised" or "a little surprised". These alternatives more effectively convey the intended meaning and align with standard English usage. Remember to use adverbs to modify adjectives for grammatical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slightly surprised

Replaces the superlative "slightest" with the adverb "slightly", correcting the grammatical error and indicating a mild degree of surprise.

a little surprised

Uses the more common phrase "a little" to convey a similar meaning of mild surprise.

somewhat surprised

Employs "somewhat" as an alternative adverb to indicate a moderate level of surprise.

mildly surprised

Replaces "slightest" with "mildly", providing a grammatically correct alternative to express gentle surprise.

not at all surprised

Expresses a complete lack of surprise, contrasting with the original phrase's intended meaning.

not the least bit surprised

Emphasizes the absence of surprise using the idiom "not the least bit".

hardly surprised

Indicates a minimal level of surprise, suggesting that the event was expected or unsurprising.

faintly surprised

Describes a very weak or subtle feeling of surprise.

a touch surprised

Uses "a touch" to denote a very small amount of surprise.

not in the slightest surprised

Uses the more idiomatic variation "not in the slightest" to emphasize the lack of surprise.

FAQs

Is "slightest surprised" grammatically correct?

No, "slightest surprised" is not grammatically correct. It's more appropriate to use phrases like "slightly surprised" or "a little surprised" to express a mild level of surprise.

What are some alternatives to "slightest surprised"?

Instead of "slightest surprised", you can use phrases such as "slightly surprised", "somewhat surprised", or "a bit surprised".

How do I properly express a minimal amount of surprise?

To properly express a minimal amount of surprise, use phrases like "mildly surprised", "faintly surprised", or "a touch surprised".

Which phrase is more appropriate: "slightest surprised" or "not at all surprised"?

"Not at all surprised" is the correct and commonly used phrase. "Slightest surprised" is grammatically incorrect. "Not at all surprised" means the person did not expect something and/or had previous experience with the subject.