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shocker

shocker

36 5.3
An event or piece of news that surprises people very much
  • noun
  • /ˈʃɑːkər/
: sorpresa
  • The unexpected decision by the mayor to resign was a shocker for the entire city.
  • a real shocker
  • a big shocker

And so that was like a big kind of shocker.

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Examples

  • Police Lieutenant Ronald Habbler has publicly named a suspect in the serial killer case, and it's a shocker!

    Fiction book (1994)
  • The real shocker was the unreleased track that was playing in the background.

    Blog text (28)
  • Now, four years later, shocker, it turns out that they were right.

  • Come November 6, the United States will see the biggest political shocker in the history of this great young nation.

    Blog text (13)
  • On Monday morning, I faced a huge shocker.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • Our current tax rules are bad enough, but this one promises to be a shocker.

    Blog text (15)
  • The big shocker was that the crowd actually consisted of a majority of Bengals fans.

    Blog text (14)
  • A Democratic landslide would be a real shocker because almost no one expects it.

    Blog text (16)
  • Unfortunately, the shockers kept coming on Tuesday when another high-scoring hoofer was sent packing.

    Blog text (33)
  • Across the screen was the large print shocker: 83% DOCTORS CONSIDER QUITTING OVER OBAMACARE, it screamed out.

    Blog text (15)

Synonyms

surprise
vsshocker
∞ 1.0

An event that happens suddenly and is not expected

implies a much stronger and more sensational reaction than mere unexpectedness
shock
vsshocker
623 2.3

A sudden strong feeling of surprise and distress after an unexpected event

is the sensational event or news that causes such strong emotional reactions
twist
vsshocker
254 4.1

A sudden change in a story or situation that surprises people

often signals extreme surprise or sensational news rather than only a plot change
bombshell
vsshocker
  • Literature
59 6.1

A piece of news that is very surprising and shocks people

is used for any sensational event or situation beyond only news
eye opener
vsshocker
16 3.9

A surprising event or fact that teaches you something new

is stronger and more sensational than something that simply reveals new facts
big reveal
vsshocker
10 3.8

An event when something surprising and important is made known after waiting

covers sensational events generally and is not limited to staged reveals
stunner
vsshocker
7 4.2

A very surprising or impressive event that shocks people

usually refers to sensational events or news rather than people or objects
thunderbolt
vsshocker
4 5.1

A sudden unexpected event that causes great shock

is not limited to sudden occurrences and can be sensational without abruptness
unexpected twist
vsshocker
4 4.2

A surprising event in a story that changes the expected outcome

is used for sensational or shocking news rather than only surprising story developments
bolt from the blue
vsshocker
  • Informal
3 6.5

A sudden event that shocks people and is not expected

can include sensational news but does not require complete suddenness or surprise
mind-blower
vsshocker
  • Informal
2 7.4

A thing that is very surprising and amazes you

is about shocking events or news rather than mainly mental amazement
thunderclap
vsshocker
1 6.5

A sudden shocking event or announcement that surprises many people

is used for sensational events or news beyond only public announcements
coup de théâtre
vsshocker
  • Literature
9.9

A sudden dramatic twist in a play or story that surprises the audience

applies to sensational events broadly rather than only to theatrical surprises

How Surprising

shocker
36 5.3
bombshell
  • Literature
59 6.1
eye-opener
57 4.4
surprise
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

shocker singular
shockers plural

Morphology

shocker = shock (transparent) = shock + er

This is a straightforward noun formed from 'shock' + '-er', meaning something that shocks or surprises greatly.

Etymology

Shocker comes from the word shock, which means 'a sudden hit or surprise', plus the ending -er, which makes 'one who causes' something. That's why a shocker can be an event or piece of news that suddenly shocks people because it is very surprising.