startle
1star·tle
verb \ˈstär-təl\star·tledstar·tling\ˈstärt-liŋ, ˈstär-təl-iŋ\
Definition of STARTLE
intransitive verb
: to move or jump suddenly (as in surprise or alarm) <the baby startles easily>
transitive verb
: to frighten or surprise suddenly and usually not seriously
— star·tle·ment \-mənt\ noun
Examples of STARTLE
- I'm sorry that I startled you.
- <the lightning startled the children and sent them scurrying for cover>
Origin of STARTLE
Middle English stertlen, frequentative of sterten to start
First Known Use: 1530
Related to STARTLE
Synonyms: amaze, astonish, astound, bowl over, dumbfound (also dumfound), flabbergast, floor, rock, shock, surprise, stun, stupefy, thunderstrike
Antonyms: reassure
Related Words: befuddle, bewilder, blindside, blow away, confound, confuse, daze, discomfit, disconcert, dismay, jar, muddle, nonplus, perplex, shake up
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