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
Here’s an even more startling data point: ChatGPT-4 successfully generated entirely new emotional intelligence tests that performed as well as versions that took researchers years to develop.
—
Roger Dooley, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
But the most startling is that the team that pioneered the opener now leads the majors in starters’ innings pitched.
—Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 20 June 2025
The new pair offers an almost startling armament of microphones and noise-cancellation tech, along with improved sound, style, and features.
—Ryan Waniata, Wired News, 10 June 2025
What’s startling is those 1,400 snakes didn’t come from a statewide culling.
—Mark Price, Miami Herald, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for startling
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Roger Dooley, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
But the most startling is that the team that pioneered the opener now leads the majors in starters’ innings pitched.
—Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 20 June 2025
The new pair offers an almost startling armament of microphones and noise-cancellation tech, along with improved sound, style, and features.
—Ryan Waniata, Wired News, 10 June 2025
What’s startling is those 1,400 snakes didn’t come from a statewide culling.
—Mark Price, Miami Herald, 9 June 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 30 Jun. 2025.
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