startling
adjective
star·tling
ˈstär-tᵊl-iŋ 
ˈstärt-liŋ
: causing momentary fright, surprise, or astonishment
a startling discovery
startlingly
adverb
Examples of startling in a Sentence
Startling new evidence came to light during the trial.
He made a startling discovery.
It is a city of startling contrasts.
Recent Examples on the Web
In a startling image, a pregnant Perfidia fires off rounds with a machine-gun butt pressed against her swollen belly.
—
Justin Chang, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2025
Youngism, the set of stereotypes and practices that discount younger workers as unreliable, lazy and disloyal, has outpaced any other type of ageism — and the economic impacts are startling.
—Jennifer Moss, Fortune, 24 Sep. 2025
Yes, it it unconventional and perhaps startling speech, but that’s the point.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 24 Sep. 2025
These systems can test your personality with startling accuracy.
—Eric Markowitz, Big Think, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for startling
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Justin Chang, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2025
Youngism, the set of stereotypes and practices that discount younger workers as unreliable, lazy and disloyal, has outpaced any other type of ageism — and the economic impacts are startling.
—Jennifer Moss, Fortune, 24 Sep. 2025
Yes, it it unconventional and perhaps startling speech, but that’s the point.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 24 Sep. 2025
These systems can test your personality with startling accuracy.
—Eric Markowitz, Big Think, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for startling
Cite this Entry
“Startling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/startling. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
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