Synonyms for "surprised"

13 kid-friendly synonyms for surprised, sorted by grade level (K-2, 3-5, 6-8).

What does "surprised" mean?

The word surprised is an adjective that means: feeling something you did not expect at all.

Example: "I was surprised by the gift."

Grade K–2Easy synonyms for surprised

Younger kids can use these in place of "surprised":

Grade 3–5Stronger words for surprised

For elementary writers ready to add precision and variety to their vocabulary:

Grade 6–8Middle-school vocabulary for surprised

Tier 2 academic alternatives — useful for essays, persuasive writing, and standardized tests:

Opposites of surprised (antonyms)

Words that mean the opposite of surprised:

See the full surprised antonyms page →

FAQ — synonyms for surprised

What is a good synonym for surprised in a kid's writing?
For K-2 writers, try shocked. For older students, "astonished" reads more naturally in school writing.
How many synonyms does surprised have?
We list 13 grade-appropriate synonyms for surprised across three reading levels. Adults' thesauruses include dozens more, but most aren't useful for K-8 vocabulary.
Is surprised a noun, verb, or adjective?
In this entry, surprised is used as an adjective.

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