Definition

The quality or condition of happening quickly and unexpectedly.

Example

The suddenness of the storm caught everyone off guard.

Conversation

Did you notice the suddenness of the storm yesterday?

Yeah, it went from sunny to pouring rain in just minutes!

I was really surprised by the suddenness of it all.

Same here! It caught everyone off guard.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Suddenness → It is formed from "sudden" (from Old English *sudden*, meaning unexpected or abrupt) and "-ness" (meaning the state or quality of). The word "suddenness" refers to the quality of being unexpected or occurring abruptly.

Memory Tip

Think of the word 'sudden' which means unexpected, and remember that 'suddenness' describes the state of being unexpected.

Visually Confused Words