startling

1 of 2

adjective

star·​tling ˈstär-tᵊl-iŋ 

ˈstärt-liŋ

: causing fright, surprise, or astonishment

a startling discovery

startlingly adverb

startling

2 of 2

present participle of startle entry 1

Synonyms of startling

Adjective

• surprising
• amazing
• shocking
• stunning
• astonishing

Examples of startling in a Sentence

Adjective

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

Adjective

An absent father—mourning a mother—a startling lack of siblings but a plethora of cousins—exile from her community. — Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2026

Still, there is something in Diaz that wants to be reckoned with, something that brings to mind those black bears in SoHo, startling and powerful and rare. — Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026

Back then the age of discovery was at its peak, and startling new information about what had previously been a very parochial planet was flooding into the academies of Europe and the Americas. — Ian Tattersall, The New York Review of Books, 19 Sep. 2026

Recent data from the back-to-school shopping season revealed startling trends. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 17 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1609, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

startling

adjective

star·​tling

: causing a sudden fright, surprise, or astonishment

a startling discovery

startlingly

ˈstärt-liŋ-lē, 

-ᵊl-iŋ-

adverb