surprisingly stunning

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "surprisingly stunning" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is unexpectedly beautiful or impressive. Example: "The landscape was surprisingly stunning, with vibrant colors and breathtaking views that took us by surprise."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Pano, a photo app, lets you aim your camera and move it along the view you want to capture, then merges the images together into surprisingly stunning panoramic shots.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Surprisingly slight, with stunning, wide-set blue eyes, Mr. Murphy was wearing a pair of dark corduroys and a well-worn sweater with a hole on its sleeve.

The New York Times

Green plants cover the terrestrial biomes of our planet and not surprisingly—show a stunning diversity of hierarchical surface structures which has been revealed with the help of scanning electron microscopy techniques (SEM) first employed in the 1970s (survey in Ref. [2]).

Nano-Micro Letters

Reviewing for the Boston Globe, I gave Lord of the Rings a mostly positive review, writing that it was "a stage epic that is surprisingly smart and visually stunning, and does not feature Frodo singing about a few of his favorite rings".

The Guardian

The result is a visually stunning, though surprisingly intimate, look at one of the art world's best-known (and perhaps, most misunderstood) figures to emerge during the latter part of the 20th century.

Huffington Post

Frank Gehry is responsible for the stunning -- and surprisingly restrained -- recent remodel.

The New York Times - Travel

The gorges of the Apurímac were stunning and, not surprisingly, there wasn't a tourist in sight.

The Guardian - Travel

That goal, surprisingly within reach, is a stunning turnaround from MF Global's bankruptcy filing in October 2011, when $1.6 billion vanished from the firm.

The New York Times

Policy is rarely changed by ideas alone and, in isolation, even stunning events can sometimes have surprisingly little effect.

The New York Times

Sometimes far less expensive than their modern counterparts, and in many cases surprisingly easy to restore, they often have stunning, handcrafted birch interiors, miniature Philco and Marvel refrigerators with pull-down handles, and porcelain-enameled Dixie stoves and ovens.

The New York Times - Travel

Most notable were the stunning take from Vermont senator Bernie Sanders, the surprisingly low-budget campaign of Donald Trump and the continuing financial advantage that top Democratic candidates had over their Republican rivals.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "surprisingly stunning" when you want to emphasize that something is not only beautiful but also unexpectedly so. This suggests that the beauty was either hidden or not anticipated.

Common error

Avoid using "surprisingly stunning" in overly formal or academic writing. While grammatically correct, it can sometimes sound less sophisticated than alternatives like "remarkably impressive" or "unexpectedly beautiful".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "surprisingly stunning" functions as a descriptive adjective phrase, modifying a noun to convey that something is unexpectedly beautiful or impressive. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "surprisingly stunning" is a grammatically correct and usable adjective phrase that describes something unexpectedly beautiful or impressive. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its validity and the examples show it appears in News & Media and Science contexts. While "surprisingly stunning" is appropriate for general use, it should be used carefully in formal academic writing where other adjectives such as "remarkably beautiful" or "unexpectedly impressive" may be more appropriate. Remember to use the phrase when you want to express admiration and highlight the unexpected nature of something's beauty.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

surprisingly impressive

Highlights the impressive aspect while keeping the element of surprise.

unexpectedly beautiful

Focuses solely on the beauty aspect, omitting the element of being "stunning".

astonishingly gorgeous

Emphasizes the degree of beauty with "astonishingly", implying a stronger impact than "surprisingly".

remarkably beautiful

Emphasizes the beauty with "remarkably", omitting the "stunning" effect.

remarkably impressive

Shifts the focus from beauty to general impressiveness, broadening the scope.

unexpectedly breathtaking

Replaces "stunning" with "breathtaking", adding a sense of awe and wonder.

unbelievably magnificent

Uses a more hyperbolic tone, suggesting something almost beyond belief.

strikingly attractive

Highlights the immediate and noticeable appeal, with "strikingly" replacing the surprise element.

impressively beautiful

Changes the order of emphasis but retains both key aspects.

unexpectedly impressive

Focuses more on the impressive nature than on the beauty.

FAQs

How can I use "surprisingly stunning" in a sentence?

You can use "surprisingly stunning" to describe something unexpectedly beautiful. For instance, "The landscape was "surprisingly stunning", with vibrant colors and breathtaking views".

What phrases are similar to "surprisingly stunning"?

Alternatives include "unexpectedly beautiful", "astonishingly gorgeous", or "remarkably impressive". Each alternative emphasizes different aspects of the unexpected beauty.

Is "surprisingly stunning" too informal for academic writing?

While grammatically sound, "surprisingly stunning" might be considered less formal. Consider using alternatives like "remarkably beautiful" or "unexpectedly impressive" for a more sophisticated tone.

What's the difference between "surprisingly stunning" and "simply stunning"?

"Surprisingly stunning" highlights that the beauty was unexpected, whereas "simply stunning" just emphasizes the high degree of beauty without the element of surprise. In other words, something "simply stunning" is beautiful as expected, something "surprisingly stunning" overcomes expectations.