unawares

adverb

Synonyms and Antonyms of UNAWARES

without warning <the thunderstorm caught us unawares, and we scrambled to get off the ridge as lightning started to flash>

Synonyms aback, suddenly, unanticipatedly, unaware, unexpectedly

Related Words abruptly, short; amazingly, astoundingly, surprisingly

Phrases all of a sudden, off base

Near Antonyms laggardly, leisurely, pokily, slowly, sluggishly, tardily; obviously

What made you want to look up unawares? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Put-downs with flair

How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.

Test your vocab with our fun, fast game

Ailurophobia, and 9 other unusual fears