surpriser
One who startles
A surpriser is someone or something that causes surprise or catches others off guard.
The term is uncommon but appears occasionally when a noun form is needed for the agent of surprising: The team was the surpriser of the tournament, upsetting two top seeds.
It follows the standard pattern of adding -er to verbs to create agent nouns, though in practice people more often rephrase to avoid it.
Someone who plays tricks
- tricksterCunning deceiver in myth
- jokerCutup or wild card
- jesterRoyal household comedian
- impMinor mischief-making devil
wag · tease · mischief-maker · ambusher · gotcha · gift-giver · buffoon · farceur
Violent sudden disturbance
- startleFrighten suddenly
- stunDaze by force
- joltAbrupt forceful shake
- bombshellShocking sudden revelation
jaw-dropper · bolt · thunderbolt · blindside · ambush · curveball · revelation · gasp
Rotating motion or surprise
- upsetDisturb, topple, or shock
- dark-horseUnlikely but possible winner
- underdogPresumed loser beforehand
- wildcardUnpredictable factor in play
anomaly · outlier · fluke · comeback · reversal · turnaround · game-changer · spoiler
Performer of illusions
- illusionistPerformer of visual deception
- mentalistSupposed thought reader
- ventriloquistOne who speaks for puppets
- mimeWordless expressive performer
improv · prestidigitator · conjurer · sleight-of-hand · reveal · misdirection · cliffhanger · jack-in-the-box
Surge of intense excitement
- treatSomething pleasantly special
- windfallUnanticipated lucky gain
- bonusReward beyond expectation
- partyGathering for celebration
celebration · reunion · proposal · homecoming · upgrade · jackpot · serendipity · elation
prankster
Someone who plays tricks
imp · wag · tease · mischief-maker · ambusher · gotcha · gift-giver · buffoon · farceur · card
shock
Violent sudden disturbance
bombshell · jaw-dropper · bolt · thunderbolt · blindside · ambush · curveball · revelation · gasp · double-take
twist
Rotating motion or surprise
- upsetDisturb, topple, or shock
- dark-horseUnlikely but possible winner
- underdogPresumed loser beforehand
wildcard · anomaly · outlier · fluke · comeback · reversal · turnaround · game-changer · spoiler · giant-killer
magician
Performer of illusions
- illusionistPerformer of visual deception
- mentalistSupposed thought reader
- ventriloquistOne who speaks for puppets
mime · improv · prestidigitator · conjurer · sleight-of-hand · reveal · misdirection · cliffhanger · jack-in-the-box · pop-up
thrill
Surge of intense excitement
party · celebration · reunion · proposal · homecoming · upgrade · jackpot · serendipity · elation · jubilation
surprisercreature of habit
Someone bound by patterns
known quantity · foregone conclusion · sure thing · safe bet · the usual
- surprise partyCovert celebration for an unsuspecting honoree
- by surpriseWithout prior notice
- take by surpriseAttack without warning
- surprise partiesSecretly planned celebrations
- surprise attackUnanticipated offensive strike
- surprise visitUnscheduled appearance at someone's location
surprise, surprised, surprising, surprises, unsurprising, unsurprised, unsurprisingly