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

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

As a Flamengo defender attempted to pass the ball to a teammate, the blue-and-yellow bird dove straight toward him, sending the startled teen crashing to the ground in a panic. — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 5 Aug. 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

Verb

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

Sometimes workers would be startled by the sight of a machine moving by itself and realize it was being controlled by someone in Turkey. — Jesse Coburn, ProPublica, 12 Aug. 2026

The 10-episode first season (critics received six for review) opens in the early hours of the morning, when Anna is startled awake by a phone call. — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026