1
as in surprised
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2
as in alarmed
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in stunned
to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected
the lightning startled the children and sent them scurrying for cover
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2
3
as in frightened
to strike with fear
loud noises always startle her
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of startled
Joshua Encinias, IndieWire, 17 June 2026
During the lead-up to this month’s primary elections, some voters in Placer County were startled to receive a text message with an image that looked like a law enforcement logo.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 14 June 2026
Robinson was startled to discover that this applicant intended to sell guns from his apartment in a building downtown, a few blocks from Camden Yards.
—Alec MacGillis, ProPublica, 1 June 2026
Some riders were mounted, while others were leading horses by hand when the startled animals broke free, the outlet said.
—Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 1 June 2026
Plans first unveiled to a startled Fox News host, Laura Ingraham.
—ABC News, 17 May 2026
Dinah spilled out, at first too startled to cry.
—Stephen King, The Atlantic, 15 May 2026
In the clip, the startled pup wags its tail and stands with the help of rescuers after it's pulled to safety.
—Christopher Edwards, PEOPLE, 12 May 2026
The attack took place during a meeting of about 30 members of the party’s youth wing, who were startled but unharmed, Jetten said.
—Molly Quell, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2026
Paloma Chavez, PEOPLE, 18 June 2026
Officials apparently were startled when more than 2,000 mostly young fans did just that.
—Jennifer Peltz, Fortune, 17 June 2026
Residents along the Massachusetts–New Hampshire border were startled by a sudden sonic boom on the afternoon of May 30, 2026.
—Shawn Laatsch, The Conversation, 15 June 2026
Her voice startled me, both rough and smooth—like a bottle of whiskey set in front of a princess.
—Literary Hub, 9 June 2026
Zoo veterinarians and staff will closely monitor the cubs and observe their behaviors like making small climbs, scratching through substrate and calling to one another when startled.
—Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 June 2026
The blast in Indonesia's restive eastern Papua region startled locals with a thunderous boom on Sunday afternoon, emitting a ball of flames followed by a thick smoke column, according to footage broadcast on Kompas TV.
—CBS News, 1 June 2026
The scale of what is emerging in China’s northwestern desert has left even seasoned analysts startled.
—Reuters, NBC news, 29 May 2026
Littrell walked up to the man, who appeared to be startled by the singer's presence.
—Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
Ahn seems mildly startled to hear his own consistency read back to him.
—Joshua Encinias, IndieWire, 17 June 2026
During the lead-up to this month’s primary elections, some voters in Placer County were startled to receive a text message with an image that looked like a law enforcement logo.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 14 June 2026
Robinson was startled to discover that this applicant intended to sell guns from his apartment in a building downtown, a few blocks from Camden Yards.
—Alec MacGillis, ProPublica, 1 June 2026
Some riders were mounted, while others were leading horses by hand when the startled animals broke free, the outlet said.
—Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 1 June 2026
Plans first unveiled to a startled Fox News host, Laura Ingraham.
—ABC News, 17 May 2026
Dinah spilled out, at first too startled to cry.
—Stephen King, The Atlantic, 15 May 2026
In the clip, the startled pup wags its tail and stands with the help of rescuers after it's pulled to safety.
—Christopher Edwards, PEOPLE, 12 May 2026
The attack took place during a meeting of about 30 members of the party’s youth wing, who were startled but unharmed, Jetten said.
—Molly Quell, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2026
Verb
To his luck, the sound finally startled the bear and sent it running.
—Paloma Chavez, PEOPLE, 18 June 2026
Officials apparently were startled when more than 2,000 mostly young fans did just that.
—Jennifer Peltz, Fortune, 17 June 2026
Residents along the Massachusetts–New Hampshire border were startled by a sudden sonic boom on the afternoon of May 30, 2026.
—Shawn Laatsch, The Conversation, 15 June 2026
Her voice startled me, both rough and smooth—like a bottle of whiskey set in front of a princess.
—Literary Hub, 9 June 2026
Zoo veterinarians and staff will closely monitor the cubs and observe their behaviors like making small climbs, scratching through substrate and calling to one another when startled.
—Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 June 2026
The blast in Indonesia's restive eastern Papua region startled locals with a thunderous boom on Sunday afternoon, emitting a ball of flames followed by a thick smoke column, according to footage broadcast on Kompas TV.
—CBS News, 1 June 2026
The scale of what is emerging in China’s northwestern desert has left even seasoned analysts startled.
—Reuters, NBC news, 29 May 2026
Littrell walked up to the man, who appeared to be startled by the singer's presence.
—Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for startled
Adjective
-
Don't be surprised if this nutty, caramel-y, chocolaty snack mix disappears quickly!—
Hannah Agran,
Midwest Living,
23 June 2026
-
That is probably what surprised, and delighted, me the most.—
Scotty Reiss,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
Adjective
-
Scenes involving firearms alarmed distributors still grappling with the aftermath of the Columbine massacre, while the film’s October release via Newmarket was further complicated by a trailer prominently featuring an airplane crash just weeks after the September 11 attacks.—
José Salazar,
IndieWire,
22 June 2026
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That relationship lasted until 2016, when Mobileye dropped Tesla as a customer after being alarmed that a driver assistance system was being sold to end users as driverless technology.—
Jonathan M. Gitlin,
ArsTechnica,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
The Sailors placed second in the ultra-competitive Sunset League and advanced to the CIF Southern Section Division 2 semifinals, in which they were stunned in the last inning by eventual champion Ganesha, 2-1.—
Richard Dunn,
Oc Register,
18 June 2026
-
For instance, on Battle of Champions, which concluded in April, all the coaches were stunned — in a good way!—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
Indiana forward Myisha Hines-Allen jumped into the scrum.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
23 June 2026
-
Now, in an Emerson College poll that asked the same question, pessimism had jumped 26 points, to 41%, while optimism had ticked down to 42% − overall, a positive edge of a single point.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
22 June 2026
Verb
-
But her outbursts frightened the children too.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 June 2026
-
What frightened me most was what might happen to my children.—
Monica Rodriguez-Aguilera,
New York Daily News,
15 June 2026
Adjective
-
Williams and Mboko were solid, and at times spectacular, during a 7-6(2), 6-2 win over Routliffe and Melichar-Martinez, who seemed a little over-awed by the situation in front of them.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
New York Times,
13 June 2026
-
Given the dramatic manner in which the hulking piers marched down the center of the institution’s narrow corridor, flanked by the photographer’s three-inch-square Polaroids, hung as if in awed supplication, the effect verged on hyperbole, the gnomic ceding to the grandiose.—
James Quandt,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
Adjective
-
Sunday, June 21, at a home in LaGrange, and the suspect’s 2-year-old daughter was among the terrified witnesses, the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office said in court documents.—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
23 June 2026
-
Psilocybin, in particular, appears to be highly effective for helping people with terminal illnesses feel less terrified of dying.—
Amanda Petrusich,
New Yorker,
22 June 2026
Verb
-
When Alexander Graham Bell demonstrated the telephone at America’s Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia in 1876, the invention amazed the crowd.—
David H. Hsu,
Fortune,
11 May 2026
-
I'mPhaedra Trethan, amazed at these quick-thinking kids.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Startled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/startled. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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