Surprise hit
The crossword clue "Surprise hit" is answered by SLEEPER, a 7-letter entry. Used 20 times across 17 distinct years; most recently in 2026; first recorded in 1977. It appears in 8 publications in the xd corpus. Every figure on this page comes from the collection data itself, never from a guess.
The answer
SLEEPER
7 letters. See every clue for this answer on the SLEEPER answer page.
Used 20 times across 17 distinct years; most recently in 2026; first recorded in 1977. It appears in 8 publications in the xd corpus. Frequency and last-seen figures come from the xd crossword corpus only.
Other answers for this clue
The same clue has also been answered these ways in the xd corpus. Answers inside this collection link to their own answer page.
Other clues for SLEEPER
Every other clue in this collection answered by SLEEPER, most used first.
- Unexpected hit - used 14 times, most recently in 2025
- Unexpected success - used 12 times, most recently in 2019
- Surprise success - used 8 times, most recently in 2021
- Dark horse - used 6 times, most recently in 2015
Related clues
Clues in this collection of the same answer length that share a word with this clue, or match its answer pattern when no word is shared. Most used first.
- Hit from behind - REAREND, used 16 times
- 1962 Paul Anka hit - ESOBESO, used 15 times
- Surprise - STARTLE, used 15 times
- Take by surprise - STARTLE, used 13 times
- Hit the spot - SATISFY, used 9 times
- 1959 Ricky Nelson hit - ITSLATE, used 8 times
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