1
as in amazes
to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected
the lightning startled the children and sent them scurrying for cover
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
3
as in frightens
to strike with fear
loud noises always startle her
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of startles
Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Aug. 2025
Noun
As the dolphin gets closer to the glass, the Chihuahua lets out a bark that startles the dolphin, who then starts mimicking the dog's mouth movements in a sort of chasing game across species.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for startles
Verb
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What amazes me is how the same film sparks such different conversations, depending on the room.—
Eitan Weiss,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Remus, who is now 5, amazes his family by reading books on his own, a development which Whittenburg attributes in part to the Imagination Library.—
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacbee.com,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Mark Hallberg Hallberg, 39, jumps out as the most viable replacement for Melvin among the Giants’ internal options despite having no experience managing in the majors.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
30 Sep. 2025
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At the pickup location, often down a remote dirt road, lawyers said, a group of migrants jumps into the car.—
Avery Schmitz,
CNN Money,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Within my book, one of the things that frightens me most is the fact that with censorship, there’s often not a clear red line, right?—
Fiction Non Fiction
October 2,
Literary Hub,
2 Oct. 2025
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What specifically frightens you?—
Tim Brinkhof,
Big Think,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
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When payments depend on a handful of correspondent relationships, shocks in one jurisdiction can ripple worldwide—whether from sanctions, de-risking decisions, cybersecurity incidents, or compliance backlogs.—
Chris Maurice,
Fortune,
3 Oct. 2025
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During times of stress, sudden retail redemptions could force asset sales at discounts, triggering liquidity crunches and pricing shocks in what have generally been stable markets.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Continue reading … 'BEEN THROUGH THIS' – Michael Cohen stuns MSNBC panel with statement about James Comey indictment.—
,
FOXNews.com,
29 Sep. 2025
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Chamarel, Mauritius Spilling across the volcanic hills of southwest Mauritius, Chamarel stuns with its terrain—Seven Coloured Earth ripples in bands of violet, ochre, and rust, shifting under the tropical sun like a living canvas.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
24 Aug. 2025
Verb
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There’s something about kidnapping that scares the fear out of you, Goldberg-Polin says.—
Romina Ruiz-Goiriena,
USA Today,
4 Oct. 2025
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While the odor scares lots of people off, there are ways to minimize it.—
Grace McCarty,
Glamour,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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His work astonishes and moves people far beyond the fashion bubble to this day.—
WWD Staff,
Footwear News,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The first time terrifies every founder.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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The moped-like sound of the Shaheds whooshing above the rooftops still unsettles but no longer terrifies.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
18 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Startles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/startles. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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