What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Thrill vs Surprise - What's the difference?

thrill | surprise |

In obsolete terms the difference between thrill and surprise

is that thrill is to hurl; to throw; to cast while surprise is a dish covered with a crust of raised pastry, but with no other contents.

As verbs the difference between thrill and surprise

is that thrill is to suddenly excite someone, or to give someone great pleasure; to (figuratively) electrify; to experience such a sensation while surprise is to cause (someone) to feel unusually alarmed or delighted.

As nouns the difference between thrill and surprise

is that thrill is a trembling or quivering, especially one caused by emotion while surprise is something not expected.

As an adjective surprise is

unexpected.

thrill

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • (ergative) To suddenly excite someone, or to give someone great pleasure; to (figuratively) electrify; to experience such a sensation.
  • * 1937 , Frank Churchill and Leigh Harline, “One Song”, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs , Walt Disney:
  • One love / That has possessed me; / One love / Thrilling me through
  • * M. Arnold
  • vivid and picturesque turns of expression which thrill the reader with sudden delight
  • * Spenser
  • The cruel word her tender heart so thrilled , / That sudden cold did run through every vein.
  • (ergative) To (cause something to) tremble or quiver.
  • (obsolete) To perforate by a pointed instrument; to bore; to transfix; to drill.
  • * Spenser
  • He pierced through his chafed chest / With thrilling point of deadly iron brand.
  • (obsolete) To hurl; to throw; to cast.
  • * Heywood
  • I'll thrill my javelin.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A trembling or quivering, especially one caused by emotion.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1935, author= George Goodchild
  • , title=Death on the Centre Court, chapter=1 , passage=She mixed furniture with the same fatal profligacy as she mixed drinks, and this outrageous contact between things which were intended by Nature to be kept poles apart gave her an inexpressible thrill .}}
  • A cause of sudden excitement; a kick.
  • (medicine) A slight quivering of the heart that accompanies a cardiac murmur.
  • A breathing place or hole; a nostril, as of a bird.
  • Derived terms

    * cheap thrill * thrill kill / thrill killing * thrill killer * thrilly

    surprise

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (l) (qualifier)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Something not expected.
  • * 2013 , Daniel Taylor, Rickie Lambert’s debut goal gives England victory over Scotland'' (in ''The Guardian , 14 August 2013)[http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/aug/14/england-scotland-international-friendly]
  • They had begun brightly but the opening goal was such a blow to their confidence it almost came as a surprise when Walcott, running through the inside-right channel, beat the offside trap and, checking back on to his left foot, turned a low shot beyond Allan McGregor in the Scotland goal.
  • * {{quote-news, year=2012, date=September 7, author=Phil McNulty, work=BBC Sport
  • , title= Moldova 0-5 England , passage=England were graphically illustrating the huge gulf in class between the sides and it was no surprise when Lampard added the second just before the half hour. Steven Gerrard found his Liverpool team-mate Glen Johnson and Lampard arrived in the area with perfect timing to glide a header beyond Namasco.}}
  • (attributive) Unexpected.
  • The feeling that something unexpected has happened.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham), title=(The China Governess)
  • , chapter=20 citation , passage=The story struck the depressingly familiar note with which true stories ring in the tried ears of experienced policemen.
  • (obsolete) A dish covered with a crust of raised pastry, but with no other contents.
  • (King)

    Synonyms

    * unexpected * (feeling) astonishment

    Derived terms

    * take by surprise

    Verb

    (surpris)
  • To cause (someone) to feel unusually alarmed or delighted.
  • It surprises me that I owe twice as much as I thought I did.
  • To do something to (a person) that they are not expecting, as a surprise.
  • He doesn’t know that I’m in the country – I thought I’d turn up at his house and surprise him.
  • To undergo or witness something unexpected.
  • He doesn’t surprise easily.
  • To cause surprise.
  • To attack unexpectedly.
  • To take unawares.
  • Adjective

    (-)
  • Unexpected.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1913, author=
  • , title=Lord Stranleigh Abroad , chapter=4 citation , passage=“I came down like a wolf on the fold, didn’t I??? Why didn’t I telephone??? Strategy, my dear boy, strategy. This is a surprise attack, and I’d no wish that the garrison, forewarned, should escape. …”}} 1000 English basic words ----