Unexpected hit
The crossword clue "Unexpected hit" is answered by SLEEPER, a 7-letter entry. Used 14 times across 14 distinct years; most recently in 2025; first recorded in 1961. It appears in 7 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 14 times across 14 distinct years; most recently in 2025; first recorded in 1961. It appears in 7 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.
- SUCKERPUNCH (2 uses in xd)
Other clues for SLEEPER
Every other clue in this collection answered by SLEEPER, most used first.
- Surprise hit - used 20 times, most recently in 2026
- 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
- Hit the spot - SATISFY, used 9 times
- 1959 Ricky Nelson hit - ITSLATE, used 8 times
- Big hit - HOMERUN, used 8 times
- Unexpected blessing - GODSEND, used 8 times
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