startles 1 of 2

present tense third-person singular of startle
1
2
as in jumps
to move suddenly and sharply (as in surprise) the cat startled when the door slammed shut with a bang

Synonyms & Similar Words

3

startles

2 of 2

noun

plural of startle

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of startles
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
  • 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
  • These reservoirs will unlikely see significant water level jumps immediately after the snowstorm.
    Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
  • Lastly, Grindelwald-First has about 35 miles of runs and a snow park with a 426-foot-long, 18-foot-high halfpipe—perfect for winter athletes who want to practice their tricks and jumps.
    Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 11 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • 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
  • What specifically frightens you?
    Tim Brinkhof, Big Think, 15 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Machined from artisan-grade materials, the HTI chassis is designed to absorb shocks, withstand abuse, and perform under the harshest combat and environmental conditions.
    Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Prolonged uncertainty, more protectionism, and labor supply shocks could reduce growth.
    Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Suiting With a Pop Greta Lee always stuns on the red carpet—but her street style game is just as good.
    Kristina Rutkowski, Vogue, 17 Oct. 2025
  • However, the show is pulled off without a hitch and Gigi Hadid stuns as its closer in an emerald green gown.
    Ellise Shafer, Variety, 9 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Nice to know there’s stuff that scares him.
    Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Oct. 2025
  • There’s something about kidnapping that scares the fear out of you, Goldberg-Polin says.
    Romina Ruiz-Goiriena, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • His work astonishes and moves people far beyond the fashion bubble to this day.
    WWD Staff, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Jesus may haunt Wendell, but Wendell terrifies Lee.
    Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2025
  • Even those who like parts of his agenda have been stumped about how to talk him out of the stuff that terrifies them — whiplash tariffs and a labor-depleting immigration crackdown.
    Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 7 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Startles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/startles. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.

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