startle

1 to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected the lightning startled the children and sent them scurrying for cover Synonyms of startle amaze, astonish, astound, bowl over, dumbfound (also dumfound), flabbergast, floor, rock, shock, surprise, stun, stupefy, thunderstrikeWords Related to startle 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 Synonyms of startle bolt, jump, startWords Related to startle 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 Synonyms of startle affright, alarm (also alarum), fright, horrify, panic, scare, scarify, shock, spook, frighten, terrify, terrorizeWords Related to startle 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, worryNear Antonyms of startle assure, cheer, comfort, console, solace, soothe; embolden, encourage, hearten, inspire, steelAntonyms of startle reassure