1
as in surprised
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Dissimilar Words
2
as in alarmed
Related Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
3
as in frightened
to strike with fear
loud noises always startle her
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of startled
Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026
Jordan was visibly startled when Davidson yelled from the auditorium as audience members gasped.
—John Ross, Vanity Fair, 23 Feb. 2026
Dwayne was startled when a scout approached him and referred to his son as an NBA prospect.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 7 Feb. 2026
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
Katie Houlis, CBS News, 7 Mar. 2026
In the early hours of Sunday morning, as a bar in a busy nightlife district of Austin, Texas, prepared to close for the night, patrons and staff were startled by the sound of gunshots.
—Amanda Musa, CNN Money, 2 Mar. 2026
At first, the banker is startled.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 27 Feb. 2026
Jordan and Lindo appeared startled by the incident but continued with their presentation.
—Yi-Jin Yu, ABC News, 23 Feb. 2026
Amid a years-long decline in the bee population that has startled scientists, experts are now warning that a growing industry is hurting native habitats and potentially leading to further die-offs.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 20 Feb. 2026
My cat was startled by a loud noise from outside and ran across the apartment with the needle in her mouth.
—Dr. John De Jong, Boston Herald, 15 Feb. 2026
Twyla Tharp’s ballet Push Comes to Shove, which premiered in 1976, startled and delighted audiences with its coy, self-referential humor, and its flirtation with popular dance styles such as jazz and tango.
—Sara Krolewski, The Atlantic, 5 Feb. 2026
After several chest compressions, Briana startled awake and cried.
—Jayme Fraser, USA Today, 4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
And Mondragon, for his part, looked a little startled to be stopped this quickly.
—Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026
Jordan was visibly startled when Davidson yelled from the auditorium as audience members gasped.
—John Ross, Vanity Fair, 23 Feb. 2026
Dwayne was startled when a scout approached him and referred to his son as an NBA prospect.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 7 Feb. 2026
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
Verb
Prosecutors allege Joshua Alvarado, 30, passed out at the wheel of his pickup truck while driving to work and was startled awake by other drivers honking at him.
—Katie Houlis, CBS News, 7 Mar. 2026
In the early hours of Sunday morning, as a bar in a busy nightlife district of Austin, Texas, prepared to close for the night, patrons and staff were startled by the sound of gunshots.
—Amanda Musa, CNN Money, 2 Mar. 2026
At first, the banker is startled.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 27 Feb. 2026
Jordan and Lindo appeared startled by the incident but continued with their presentation.
—Yi-Jin Yu, ABC News, 23 Feb. 2026
Amid a years-long decline in the bee population that has startled scientists, experts are now warning that a growing industry is hurting native habitats and potentially leading to further die-offs.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 20 Feb. 2026
My cat was startled by a loud noise from outside and ran across the apartment with the needle in her mouth.
—Dr. John De Jong, Boston Herald, 15 Feb. 2026
Twyla Tharp’s ballet Push Comes to Shove, which premiered in 1976, startled and delighted audiences with its coy, self-referential humor, and its flirtation with popular dance styles such as jazz and tango.
—Sara Krolewski, The Atlantic, 5 Feb. 2026
After several chest compressions, Briana startled awake and cried.
—Jayme Fraser, USA Today, 4 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for startled
Adjective
-
The series took culture by storm soon after its premiere in November, and viewers who have spent any time in its online fan spaces likely won't be surprised to see Williams and Arnaud wading into the discourse around Heated Rivalry.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Mar. 2026
-
No one was surprised to see Robbie, a Chanel ambassador, at the fashion house's Paris Fashion Week show on Monday, March 9.—
Marci Robin,
Allure,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The law enforcement steps have alarmed election officials and Democrats who fear that the administration is building an argument for interfering in this year’s midterm elections.—
Isaac Arnsdorf,
Washington Post,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Donnie is alarmed to find her in a room that, according to the board, is unoccupied.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
And how about the 2006 final when Palo Alto stunned Mater Dei 51-47 in Division II in which Jeremy Lin made a 25-foot bank shot from the top of the key.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Over the weekend, Wall abruptly pulled the plug on his Sunday night performance in Evansville, Indiana, just minutes before he was scheduled to take the stage, leaving concertgoers stunned and worried about the singer’s well-being.—
Stephanie Giang-Paunon,
FOXNews.com,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In California, annual sales of new light-duty zero-emission vehicles jumped 43% in 2022, according to the state’s Energy Commission.—
Blanca Begert,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Palm oil surged as much as 10%, soybean oil jumped and wheat neared a two-year peak, as the war in the Middle East drove energy and fertilizer costs higher and threatened to tighten supplies across agricultural markets.—
Hallie Gu,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
That habit didn’t endear the Alspaws to anyone nearby, including one neighbor who threatened to shoot Brittany after the Alspaws frightened his horses.—
Tessa Stuart,
Rolling Stone,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Konstantin, 4, a sociable boy, is often frightened by loud noises and guards, his parents said.—
Mike Hixenbaugh,
NBC news,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
And the second-to-none acoustics, with 10,000 state-of-the-art fiber panels that project sound throughout the theater, will leave you awed.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 Feb. 2026
-
He was awed by how much Jackson had grown into his stature.—
Alexandra Kukulka,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Everyone is terrified but grateful for this gift Ennis and Gary have given them.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
9 Mar. 2026
-
But her mother, too terrified to take out the garbage, let alone venture through the city to a hospital, canceled the procedure.—
Kate Wells,
NPR,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Melissa's rapid intensification and high winds and atypical hurricane behavior amazed even some of the more experienced scientists who study tropical cyclones, thanks in part to its journey over some exceptionally warm waters in the Caribbean.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
25 Feb. 2026
-
What amazed me the most was the remains of what appeared to be a tall conifer — possibly a cypress or cedar — on Edgar Street in Pacific Palisades, where the Palisades fire ravaged an entire street.—
Jeanette Marantos,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Startled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/startled. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.
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