startle

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