Synonyms and Antonyms of startle
1
to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected
- the lightning startled the children and sent them scurrying for cover
amaze, astonish, astound, bowl over, dumbfound (also dumfound), flabbergast, floor, rock, shock, stun, stupefy, surprise (also surprize), thunderstrike
befuddle, bewilder, blindside, blow away, confound, confuse, daze, discomfit, disconcert, dismay, jar, muddle, nonplus, perplex, shake up
2
to move suddenly and sharply (as in surprise)
- the cat startled when the door slammed shut with a bang
jerk, jolt, twitch
blench, cringe, flinch, quail, recoil, shrink, spook, squinch, wince
bound, leap, spring
react, respond
3
to strike with fear
- loud noises always startle her
affright, alarm (also alarum), fright, frighten, horrify, panic, scare, scarify, shock, spook, terrify, terrorize
appall (also appal), bowl over, dismay, floor, jolt, shake, shake up
amaze, astound, awe
chill, daunt, demoralize, dispirit, emasculate, psych (out), undo, unman, unnerve, unstring
discomfort, discompose, disconcert, disquiet, distract, distress, disturb, perturb, unsettle, upset, worry
