startled; startling
ˈstärt-liŋ 
ˈstär-tᵊl-iŋ
: to move or jump suddenly (as in surprise or alarm)
the baby startles easily
: to frighten or surprise suddenly and usually not seriously
: a sudden mild shock (as of surprise or alarm)
Synonyms
Examples of startle in a Sentence
Verb
I'm sorry that I startled you.
the lightning startled the children and sent them scurrying for cover
Recent Examples on the Web
Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2024
That startled many people inside and out of City Hall, considering Gloria’s creation of that department was hailed as a major step by the administration to address homelessness.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for startle 
Verb
In separate interviews, the three men recalled when, in a rush, directors failed to entirely seal off a bridge before staging a special-effects explosion, startling a grip who was walking at the end of the bridge.
—Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2024
That startled many people inside and out of City Hall, considering Gloria’s creation of that department was hailed as a major step by the administration to address homelessness.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for startle
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'startle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Startle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/startle. Accessed 5 May. 2024.
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