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
Synonyms of startle
Examples of startle in a Sentence
I'm sorry that I startled you.
the lightning startled the children and sent them scurrying for cover
Recent Examples on the Web
The blast in Indonesia's restive eastern Papua region startled locals with a thunderous boom on Sunday afternoon, emitting a ball of flames followed by a thick smoke column, according to footage broadcast on Kompas TV.
—
CBS News, 1 June 2026
The scale of what is emerging in China’s northwestern desert has left even seasoned analysts startled.
—Reuters, NBC news, 29 May 2026
The spray of water should startle any squirrels, deer, or other wildlife trying to sneak fruit from your tree.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 28 May 2026
The voice that had so startled me belonged to our farmhand, Heisuke, a loyal but rather slow-witted man.
—Literary Hub, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for startle
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
CBS News, 1 June 2026
The scale of what is emerging in China’s northwestern desert has left even seasoned analysts startled.
—Reuters, NBC news, 29 May 2026
The spray of water should startle any squirrels, deer, or other wildlife trying to sneak fruit from your tree.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 28 May 2026
The voice that had so startled me belonged to our farmhand, Heisuke, a loyal but rather slow-witted man.
—Literary Hub, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for startle
Cite this Entry
“Startle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/startle. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
