1
as in to amaze
to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected
the lightning startled the children and sent them scurrying for cover
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
3
as in to frighten
to strike with fear
loud noises always startle her
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in shock
Related Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of startle
Claire Wang, Oc Register, 13 Jan. 2026
Authorities in southern Colorado are investigating after a sudden explosion damaged a building and startled nearby residents.
—Christa Swanson, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 4 Aug. 2025
Threaten the rubber hand by attempting to stab it with a dagger, for instance, and the participants exhibit an involuntary startle or fear response.
—ArsTechnica, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for startle
Verb
Mission Viejo Animal Services responded to a call Friday morning from a Rancho Santa Margarita resident who reported that strong winds had startled the 16-month-old dog, Lana, prompting her to flee into a canyon area between Dove Canyon and Coto de Caza.
—Claire Wang, Oc Register, 13 Jan. 2026
Authorities in southern Colorado are investigating after a sudden explosion damaged a building and startled nearby residents.
—Christa Swanson, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
Noun
Perry collected herself after the initial startle and resumed the song when the set design was stabilized.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 4 Aug. 2025
Threaten the rubber hand by attempting to stab it with a dagger, for instance, and the participants exhibit an involuntary startle or fear response.
—ArsTechnica, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for startle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for startle
Verb
-
In one camp Gao Sheng breaks a cultural norm by helping her father and uncles with a big project, amazing her relatives with her physical and mental strength.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
18 Jan. 2026
-
An artist who never fails to amaze me.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
1 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Even as Covid-19 disrupted global travel, the length of operational high-speed lines jumped by 40% between 2020 and 2022, from 27,300 to 36,580 miles — most of it in China.—
Ben Jones,
CNN Money,
26 Jan. 2026
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This jumps the number of accidents to 151 since the start of the harsh winter weather Saturday.—
Elissa Jorgensen,
Dallas Morning News,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Mariana, for example, wrote about children being frightened by school shootings.—
Kayla Huynh,
jsonline.com,
16 Jan. 2026
-
While some passengers were said to have been frightened and crying, witnesses to the crash didn’t immediately believe there were any serious injuries.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
This should not come as a shock.—
Walter Russell Mead,
The Atlantic,
24 Jan. 2026
-
From crafting journeys for multi-generational families to navigating geopolitical shocks, the company has relied on them.—
Daniel Scheffler,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Homendy said the helicopter altimeter discrepancy is what surprised her the most in this investigation.—
Sam Sweeney,
ABC News,
27 Jan. 2026
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Samsung has surprised users in recent months with some security fixes for devices even after support has ended.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The hard-drinking, hyper-sensitive Fitzgerald himself would have winced at any of the five adaptations of The Great Gatsby.—
Peter Bart,
Deadline,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Charleigh inwardly winced and froze in place, hand still on the knob.—
Lizz Schumer,
PEOPLE,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
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This being an aggravation of the previous injury could scare off even more potential suitors.—
Bryan Toporek,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
-
But to enter the church, berate peaceful worshipers and scare children crosses a line.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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So we were stunned to read about how Sean Harden, chair of the Chicago Board of Education as duly appointed by Mayor Brandon Johnson, reportedly had launched two internal investigations into how that board’s super-secret business got into the hands of reporters.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Jan. 2026
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Others were stunned by individual line items.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Startle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/startle. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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