as in astonishment
the state of being strongly impressed by something unexpected or unusual
the look of startlement in her eyes when she found herself at the wedding seated next to her ex-boyfriend
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for startlement
Noun
-
Embiid said in astonishment after the game.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
12 Mar. 2026 -
To my astonishment, the classic poem became one of the most mind-expanding literary experiences of my life.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
When Adebayo hit his final two foul shots to reach 83 points, players shook their heads in amazement.—
Josh Robbins,
New York Times,
11 Mar. 2026
-
The time and attention to detail afforded it by Lord and Miller suggest that the directors are as susceptible as any of us to that amazement, elevated by the moving solemnity and celestial dimensions of Daniel Pemberton’s beautiful score.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Now came the surprise of my effortful steps, the shock of how unyielding the dress’s shell was, as if I were being held in place by a firm hand.—
Han Ong,
New Yorker,
15 Mar. 2026
-
So the lack of parachutes in the KC-135, under this light, should not come as much of a shock.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Stock the fridge, because surprise company might drop by.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
16 Mar. 2026
-
But many Oscar pundits abandoned ship, after Jordan pulled out a surprise win from the Actor Awards on March 1.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
16 Mar. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Startlement.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/startlement. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
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