startled; startling
ˈstär-tᵊl-iŋ 
ˈstärt-liŋ
: 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 of startle
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
Darcie Moran, USA Today, 24 Nov. 2025
Another student, Christian Leguerre, said the rapid burst of shots startled residents of The Mix Apartments.
—Christopher Harris, CBS News, 17 Nov. 2025
Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2025
Knott’s Berry Farm associate producer Pasta Rago showed me how to do the startle scare and lunge.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for startle
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Verb
The singular worker realized that the porta-potty was in the way, inserted forks from the loader into the structure to move it, and was startled when Kolbe exited, Rush said.
—Darcie Moran, USA Today, 24 Nov. 2025
Another student, Christian Leguerre, said the rapid burst of shots startled residents of The Mix Apartments.
—Christopher Harris, CBS News, 17 Nov. 2025
Noun
The wife, who’d been fixated on the cages, shook with a startle, as if waking from a dream.
—Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2025
Knott’s Berry Farm associate producer Pasta Rago showed me how to do the startle scare and lunge.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for startle
Cite this Entry
“Startle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/startle. Accessed 29 Nov. 2025.
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