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startle

verb

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
Synonyms of startle

amaze, astonish, astound, bowl over, dumbfound (also dumfound), flabbergast, floor, rock, shock, stun, stupefy, surprise (also surprize), thunderstrike
Words Related to startle

befuddle, bewilder, blindside, blow away, confound, confuse, daze, discomfit, disconcert, dismay, jar, muddle, nonplus, perplex, shake up
Phrases Synonymous with startle

knock for a loop, take aback, take by surprise

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, start
Words 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, frighten, horrify, panic, scare, scarify, shock, spook, terrify, terrorize
Words 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, worry
Phrases Synonymous with startle

give one the creeps, make one's flesh creep (or crawl)
Near Antonyms of startle

assure, cheer, comfort, console, solace, soothe

embolden, encourage, hearten, inspire, steel
Antonyms of startle

reassure

Learn More about startle

  1. Dictionary: Definition of startle Spanish Central: Translation of startle Nglish: Translation of startle for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of startle for Arabic speakers

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