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

TikTok user Aubrey Birrell posted a video of her startled reaction to her San Diego, California, Airbnb on July 2. — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 14 July 2026

One of them who’d worked with Juliatra-Monoth gave him a startled look. — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 26 June 2026

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

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

Verb

Witness Hoon Chan Sim, 53, was sitting on a park lawn with his dog near West Drive when he was startled by the squeal of braking tires, and spun around to see the horrific collision. — Lincoln Anderson, New York Daily News, 25 July 2026

Wildlife experts say black bears are strong climbers and may scale trees, utility poles or other tall structures when startled by people, traffic or dogs. — Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 23 July 2026

Indeed, Hartstone-Rose and his colleagues noted in their 2020 paper that some of the animals could have been startled by the humans, but the researchers weren’t sure. — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 23 July 2026

Stone Mountain, Georgia — Jean Shifrin was hiking up a steep mountain trail on the Fourth of July when she was startled by something approaching her from behind. — John Blake, CNN Money, 19 July 2026

Exactly two years ago tomorrow, an unexpected visitor startled a homeowner in Hillsborough, New Jersey. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 15 July 2026

The owner was reportedly startled and dropped the leash before the two animals fought, DEEP officials said. — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 9 July 2026

Pochettino’s sources of American sports culture inspiration There were some aspects of American culture, and specifically American sports culture, that clearly startled Pochettino. — Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 5 July 2026

Today Twain would be startled by the passivity of a once-mighty Congress that has all but crumbled in the face of pressure from the White House. — Ron Chernow, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026