1
as in surprised
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Dissimilar Words
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
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Recent Examples of startled
Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2026
Their physical reactions to being startled were stronger, and their heart rates were higher.
—Marta Hill, Scientific American, 14 Jan. 2026
Revell was startled to find just one Northern California company, Devastating Pyrotechnics, had imported from T-SKY – and the company lacked a license to sell consumer fireworks in California.
—Joe Rubin, Sacbee.com, 13 Jan. 2026
The fish was equally startled by me.
—Susan Casey, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2026
According to a Facebook post shared by Friends of Horsey Seals, the startled angler had just caught a fish and was attempting to place it into his net when the seal suddenly popped up and went for the same catch.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 30 Dec. 2025
Newton appeared startled but was compliant as she was handcuffed.
—Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 18 Dec. 2025
The Australia wicketkeeper arrived at the crease at Adelaide Oval with his team four down in the first over after lunch and in a state of startled disbelief.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 17 Dec. 2025
Out with a potential love interest one evening, in a packed Manhattan comedy club, Tess is startled when Alex strides up to the microphone.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 12 Dec. 2025
Jeffrey Schweers, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Jan. 2026
YouTube’s growth as a competitor to traditional television has startled the industry in recent years.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 21 Jan. 2026
The e-bike collided with the car, and the driver, who police said was startled by the collision, accelerated across the street, killing Ayden and injuring a 6-year-old girl, both of whom were with their family in front of the restaurant.
—Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 20 Jan. 2026
Mission Viejo Animal Services responded to a call Friday morning from a Rancho Santa Margarita resident who reported that strong winds had startled the 16-month-old dog, Lana, prompting her to flee into a canyon area between Dove Canyon and Coto de Caza.
—Claire Wang, Oc Register, 13 Jan. 2026
Authorities in southern Colorado are investigating after a sudden explosion damaged a building and startled nearby residents.
—Christa Swanson, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
Leibfried was responding to a report of a domestic disturbance in the building and was startled by a loud bang that emanated from the closed door of an apartment.
—Peter Passi, Twin Cities, 9 Jan. 2026
Jamie, the dog-sitter, is startled that Pam is back so soon.
—Allegra Goodman, New Yorker, 4 Jan. 2026
DeepSeek startled Silicon Valley last year with a model that rivals ChatGPT but built with far less money and computing muscle.
—Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 3 Jan. 2026
Adjective
If guests are startled — or, more likely, amused — at your father’s being tieless and wearing sneakers, that is his problem.
—Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2026
Their physical reactions to being startled were stronger, and their heart rates were higher.
—Marta Hill, Scientific American, 14 Jan. 2026
Revell was startled to find just one Northern California company, Devastating Pyrotechnics, had imported from T-SKY – and the company lacked a license to sell consumer fireworks in California.
—Joe Rubin, Sacbee.com, 13 Jan. 2026
The fish was equally startled by me.
—Susan Casey, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2026
According to a Facebook post shared by Friends of Horsey Seals, the startled angler had just caught a fish and was attempting to place it into his net when the seal suddenly popped up and went for the same catch.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 30 Dec. 2025
Newton appeared startled but was compliant as she was handcuffed.
—Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 18 Dec. 2025
The Australia wicketkeeper arrived at the crease at Adelaide Oval with his team four down in the first over after lunch and in a state of startled disbelief.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 17 Dec. 2025
Out with a potential love interest one evening, in a packed Manhattan comedy club, Tess is startled when Alex strides up to the microphone.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 12 Dec. 2025
Verb
The exchange startled Loftus, who this month shared the correspondence with the Orlando Sentinel.
—Jeffrey Schweers, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Jan. 2026
YouTube’s growth as a competitor to traditional television has startled the industry in recent years.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 21 Jan. 2026
The e-bike collided with the car, and the driver, who police said was startled by the collision, accelerated across the street, killing Ayden and injuring a 6-year-old girl, both of whom were with their family in front of the restaurant.
—Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 20 Jan. 2026
Mission Viejo Animal Services responded to a call Friday morning from a Rancho Santa Margarita resident who reported that strong winds had startled the 16-month-old dog, Lana, prompting her to flee into a canyon area between Dove Canyon and Coto de Caza.
—Claire Wang, Oc Register, 13 Jan. 2026
Authorities in southern Colorado are investigating after a sudden explosion damaged a building and startled nearby residents.
—Christa Swanson, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
Leibfried was responding to a report of a domestic disturbance in the building and was startled by a loud bang that emanated from the closed door of an apartment.
—Peter Passi, Twin Cities, 9 Jan. 2026
Jamie, the dog-sitter, is startled that Pam is back so soon.
—Allegra Goodman, New Yorker, 4 Jan. 2026
DeepSeek startled Silicon Valley last year with a model that rivals ChatGPT but built with far less money and computing muscle.
—Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 3 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for startled
Adjective
-
In that sense, no one inside the Leafs should be surprised.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Leadership isn’t acting surprised after the money is gone.—
Jennifer Nassour,
Boston Herald,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Regina seemed alarmed by the suggestion.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Jan. 2026
-
The Santa Venetia neighbors may not be too alarmed at this point, but the county says the levees are a problem now.—
John Ramos,
CBS News,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The football world was stunned on Tuesday night when it was initially reported that eight-time Super Bowl winner Bill Belichick was not voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Commenters flooded in with disbelief, memes and theories, stunned by the odds of six matching vehicles ending up in the same crash.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Even as Covid-19 disrupted global travel, the length of operational high-speed lines jumped by 40% between 2020 and 2022, from 27,300 to 36,580 miles — most of it in China.—
Ben Jones,
CNN Money,
26 Jan. 2026
-
This morning, Nvidia announced an investment of $2 billion in artificial intelligence infrastructure provider CoreWeave, whose stock jumped 8% on the news.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Why was Caesar Augustus frightened of Ovid?—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Mariana, for example, wrote about children being frightened by school shootings.—
Kayla Huynh,
jsonline.com,
16 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
From decades old stalwarts that awed generations of diners to relative newcomers that arrived boasting critical acclaim, here are a few of the closures that hit hardest in 2025.—
Brock Keeling,
Oc Register,
30 Dec. 2025
-
The Aggies lauded Kentucky as a great team and were still laughing in disbelief after the match, awed by their own accomplishments.—
PJ Green,
Kansas City Star,
21 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Barry’s little sister, who answered the call, was terrified.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
-
But there’s plenty of agonized screaming, as well as lots of closeups of terrified faces.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The universe amazed me yet again.—
Daisy Dobrijevic,
Space.com,
17 Nov. 2025
-
In 1905, German zoologist Gustav Tornier described a live-bearing toad from Tanzania that amazed scientists of his time.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Startled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/startled. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
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