startling
adjective
star·tling
ˈstär-tᵊl-iŋ 
ˈstärt-liŋ
: causing 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
Non-league Macclesfield Town produced one of the FA Cup’s most startling soccer upsets on Saturday beating titleholders Crystal Palace 2–1 in a third‑round thriller.
—
Reuters 17 Hr Ago, CNN Money, 10 Jan. 2026
The startling conversation spurred a year-long search for answers.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 10 Jan. 2026
Screen exposure for children under age 2 has surged, according to a startling new study.
—Caitlin Gibson, Washington Post, 9 Jan. 2026
The startling moment quickly grabbed attention online, with the video racking up more than 9 million views.
—Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for startling
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Reuters 17 Hr Ago, CNN Money, 10 Jan. 2026
The startling conversation spurred a year-long search for answers.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 10 Jan. 2026
Screen exposure for children under age 2 has surged, according to a startling new study.
—Caitlin Gibson, Washington Post, 9 Jan. 2026
The startling moment quickly grabbed attention online, with the video racking up more than 9 million views.
—Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for startling
Cite this Entry
“Startling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/startling. Accessed 26 Jan. 2026.
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