thoroughly surprising

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "thoroughly surprising" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is completely unexpected or astonishing. Example: "The ending of the movie was thoroughly surprising, leaving the audience in shock."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

In contrast, Taylor Swift is a thoroughly surprising entity – a child star turned gritty, stealth robo-bitch, exuding a quiet sass in pithy lyrics, performing in outfits which maintain focus on her facial lips not her labia.

Independent

Just in the past two years, as he turned 50, he has brought out two thoroughly surprising LPs: the lengthy, romantic, critically lauded 22 Dreams, which he describes as "us trying to be as indulgent as we could, really"; and now Wake Up the Nation, compact, dense, whirling with off-beat sounds.

The Guardian - Music

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Los Angeles is so thoroughly entangled with the history of surfing, it's surprising the city's main industry hasn't made more films about the sport.

The Guardian - Film

Surprising as it may sound, Isis is in many respects thoroughly modern.

BBC

It is also important to read any paperwork you sign thoroughly beforehand -- this can help prevent any hidden fees from cropping up and surprising you down the road when you are trying to get out of debt.

Huffington Post

Surprising myself.

Independent

Not surprising.

The New York Times

Nothing surprising.

Forbes

Surprising certainly.

SEP

Surprising Statement.

WikiHow

Paige Camisasca of Revolver magazine scored the album four out of five, calling it a "surprising, thoroughly consistent return-to-form".

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "thoroughly surprising" when you want to emphasize the completeness and unexpectedness of something, but be mindful of its relatively low frequency in common usage. Consider whether a more common synonym might be more effective for your audience.

Common error

Avoid stacking intensifiers. While "thoroughly surprising" is acceptable, adding further intensifiers (e.g., 'utterly thoroughly surprising') can sound redundant and weaken your writing. Choose the single most effective word to convey your meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "thoroughly surprising" functions as an adjectival modifier. It intensifies the adjective "surprising", indicating that something is not just unexpected, but completely and utterly so. Ludwig AI confirms its usability.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "thoroughly surprising" is a grammatically correct but relatively rare phrase used to emphasize the unexpectedness of something. While Ludwig confirms its validity, consider more common alternatives like "completely unexpected" depending on the context. It finds its usage across diverse media, including News, Wiki and Science. While not incorrect, writers should be mindful of potentially overusing intensifiers and should think about alternatives when they create their content.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

thoroughly unexpected

A more common and direct synonym, replacing "surprising" with "unexpected".

completely unexpected

Focuses on the lack of anticipation, highlighting that something was not foreseen at all.

entirely unforeseen

Similar to 'completely unexpected' but with a more formal tone.

utterly astonishing

Replaces both words with stronger synonyms emphasizing the high degree of surprise and amazement.

remarkably unexpected

Combines the aspect of remarkableness with the lack of expectation.

wholly unanticipated

Uses more formal vocabulary to emphasize the complete lack of anticipation.

absolutely startling

Emphasizes the abrupt and shocking nature of the surprise.

genuinely astonishing

Highlights the authenticity and profoundness of the surprise.

profoundly astonishing

Uses 'profoundly' to intensify the level of astonishment, suggesting a deep impact.

truly remarkable

Shifts the focus slightly from surprise to the exceptional nature of the thing itself.

FAQs

How can I use "thoroughly surprising" in a sentence?

You can use "thoroughly surprising" to describe an event, outcome, or piece of information that is entirely unexpected. For example, "The plot twist was "thoroughly surprising", leaving the audience in disbelief."

What are some alternatives to "thoroughly surprising"?

Alternatives include "completely unexpected", "utterly astonishing", or "entirely unforeseen". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "thoroughly surprising" a formal or informal phrase?

"Thoroughly surprising" is relatively neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more common alternatives might be preferred in very formal writing.

Is it redundant to use "thoroughly" with "surprising"?

While "surprising" already implies an element of unexpectedness, using "thoroughly surprising" emphasizes the completeness of the surprise. The phrase is grammatically sound, but consider if the added emphasis is necessary for your intended meaning.