Synonyms of startled

startled 1 of 2

adjective

1

as in surprised

Related Words

• surprised
• awed
• bewildered
• wondering
• astounded
• bemused
• astonished
• dumbfounded
• awestruck
• amazed
• flabbergasted
• puzzled
• open-mouthed
• marveling
• staggered
• overwhelmed
• stunned
• stupefied

Dissimilar Words

• unimpressed
• disinterested
• indifferent
• unconcerned
• uninterested
• impassive
• bored
• dispassionate
• incurious
• jaded
• unemotional
• emotionless

2

as in alarmed

Related Words

• alarmed
• terrified
• horrified
• spooked
• afraid
• panicked
• scared
• unnerved
• shocked
• panicky
• apprehensive
• nervous
• panic-stricken
• anxious
• terrorized
• jumpy
• yellow
• jittery
• timid
• pusillanimous
• cowardly
• spooky
• craven
• gutless
• unheroic
• timorous
• dastardly
• spineless
• tremulous
• chicken
• mousy
• fainthearted
• milk-livered
• chickenhearted
• fearful
• scary
• chicken-livered
• lily-livered
• poltroon
• skittish
• shy
• fearsome

Dissimilar Words

• daring
• bold
• adventurous
• brave
• audacious
• hardy
• venturesome
• courageous
• fearless
• undaunted
• intrepid
• dashing
• confident
• gutsy
• heroic
• gallant
• valiant
• dauntless
• stout
• assured
• stalwart
• valorous
• venturous
• determined
• adventuresome
• resolute
• firm
• stouthearted
• undeterred
• plucky
• unflinching
• spirited
• greathearted
• lionhearted
• spunky
• game
• unswerving
• self-assured
• doughty
• self-confident
• mettlesome

startled

2 of 2

verb

past tense of startle

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• surprised
• stunned
• amazed
• shocked
• astonished
• astounded
• stupefied
• dumbfounded
• flabbergasted
• rocked
• thunderstruck
• bewildered
• perplexed
• confused
• disconcerted
• bowled over
• dazed
• befuddled
• nonplussed
• floored
• took by surprise
• dismayed
• took aback
• blindsided
• jarred
• confounded
• discomfited
• muddled
• shook up
• blew away
• knocked for a loop

2

as in jumped

to move suddenly and sharply (as in surprise)

the cat startled when the door slammed shut with a bang

Synonyms & Similar Words

• jumped
• winced
• cringed
• leaped
• flinched
• bolted
• jerked
• twitched
• started
• spooked
• jolted
• recoiled
• reacted
• responded
• sprang
• bounded
• shrank
• quailed
• blenched
• squinched

3

as in frightened

to strike with fear

loud noises always startle her

Synonyms & Similar Words

• frightened
• scared
• terrified
• spooked
• shocked
• horrified
• alarmed
• panicked
• shook
• affrighted
• frighted
• terrorized
• amazed
• appalled
• scarified
• worried
• distracted
• jolted
• astounded
• dismayed
• awed
• gave one the creeps
• made one's flesh creep
• disturbed
• disconcerted
• unnerved
• daunted
• shook up
• upset
• perturbed
• bowled over
• disquieted
• unsettled
• dispirited
• floored
• discomforted
• distressed
• emasculated
• discomposed
• demoralized
• chilled
• psyched (out)
• unmanned
• undid
• unstrung

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reassured
• assured
• comforted
• cheered
• soothed
• consoled
• inspired
• encouraged
• emboldened
• heartened
• solaced
• steeled

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of startled

Adjective

The rights have remained in the family, so Hreljanovic was startled to find, a few years ago, that the film was streaming on Shudder, the horror site, and that DVDs were selling on Amazon. — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 3 Nov. 2026

Officials who appear loyal today might withhold cooperation from a startled regime, engage in a power struggle, or defect en masse. — Jieun Baek, Foreign Affairs, 30 Oct. 2026

In the past, horses have collapsed, gotten startled and run off, hitting cars or other objects, with each accident resulting in fresh calls for a ban. — Anthony Izaguirre, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026

Ewart, 43, a fellow opponent of the data center project, was startled to hear that. — ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026

The startled deputy lets out a scream and races back toward his patrol vehicle. — Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2026

The feline was then released back into the wild, startled but safe. — Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 2 Sep. 2026

Her face, indisputably middle-aged, had a pensive, startled quality. — Madhuri Vijay, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026

Even general manager Jonah Kaplan is a little startled by the café’s increasing popularity. — Miami Herald, 6 Aug. 2026

Verb

Surveillance footage & evidence Police reviewed surveillance footage in the area, which showed the two gunshot victims walking, then appear startled, according to court records. — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2026

However, startled by the activation of the security system, the suspect fled the scene without stealing any loot. — Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 5 Oct. 2026

Their approach startled the predator, who took off with the mother godwit in its claws. — Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2026

While holding Gnocchi, a large street cleaning truck whipped down the street and startled him into clawing away. — Emily Tarinelli, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026

This horror movie mostly just smelled of fake fog from a community theater production and occasionally you were startled by random bursts of air, once again pulling you from the events on screen. — Meredith G. White, AZCentral.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Silver carp can be startled by boat engines, launching themselves as high as 10 feet from the water and sometimes injuring boaters. — Caitlin Looby, jsonline.com, 27 Aug. 2026

Of those who were injured, officials said that many were hurt while falling down or hitting themselves against furniture after being startled by the earthquake while sleeping. — Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 23 Aug. 2026

There’s nothing worse than waking up in the middle of a super restful sleep cycle, whether you are startled by the neighbor’s dog or an unwanted text message. — Alexandra Frost, USA Today, 17 Aug. 2026