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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of startles
James L. Edwards Iii, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2026
The project, which Steinberger has rebranded multiple times—evolving from Clawdbot to Moltbot and finally to OpenClaw—largely owing to politics—has expanded at a pace that startles even seasoned AI experts.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 19 Feb. 2026
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
That aural reminder punctuates my days now, and frequently startles me.
—Rob Mank, Christian Science Monitor, 2 Apr. 2025
Verb
If hypotheticals about what could have been are a good dream for New York Knicks fans, then Mikal Bridges is the alarm clock that startles them awake.
—James L. Edwards Iii, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2026
The project, which Steinberger has rebranded multiple times—evolving from Clawdbot to Moltbot and finally to OpenClaw—largely owing to politics—has expanded at a pace that startles even seasoned AI experts.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 19 Feb. 2026
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
That aural reminder punctuates my days now, and frequently startles me.
—Rob Mank, Christian Science Monitor, 2 Apr. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for startles
Verb
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The second thing that strikes me more and actually amazes me is the fact that this is a story, a trope, that is repeated in most of the presentation of Agnes Pockels.—
Mariel Carr,
Scientific American,
20 Mar. 2026
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Eva’s romance with her husband, Franklin Plaskett, delights and amazes her.—
Adelle Waldman,
The Atlantic,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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And as the federal government jumps into the fray, looking not only for the particles but also the potential effects on human health, the risk to the multibillion-dollar chemical and fossil fuel companies that manufacture and distribute these products grows.—
Susanne Rust
Follow,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Apr. 2026
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Engineers at Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, also known as KAIST, built a humanoid that runs, jumps and even moonwalks with smooth control.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The piercing sunlight frightens her.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Feb. 2026
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Like the 1987 Kurt Vonnegut novel from which the restaurant took its name, Bluebeard encourages guests to drop their guard, surround themselves with other people and try something that frightens them a little.—
USA TODAY NETWORK,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Still, said Buckberg, the series of back-to-back shocks over the past five years could make this moment different, leaving drivers more sensitive to swings at the pump — and more frustrated by the volatility.—
Allie Canal,
NBC news,
7 Apr. 2026
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Fossil fuel shocks have historically strengthened the case for alternative energy sources, and green hydrogen could again benefit from higher fossil fuel prices — at least temporarily.—
Natasha Bracken,
semafor.com,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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South Carolina stuns undefeated UConn 62-48, snapping the Huskies’ 54-game winning streak and advancing to the women’s NCAA championship game.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Apr. 2026
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This trail stuns in either direction, but beginning at Clark Forks cuts elevation gain by nearly 2,000 feet.—
Madison Chapman,
Outside,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Amid the positives, what scares you the most right now about the industry?—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Apr. 2026
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That distinction, between desensitization and normalization, is crucial to how Goldhaber and Mazzei approach scares in the digital age.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Your Skin Benefits Too This one surprises people, but the research backs it up.—
Allison Palmer,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Apr. 2026
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Tulsa responded with a level of generosity that still surprises him.—
Jimmy Jellinek,
SPIN,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Frankly, the thought of being beaten by the subscribers terrifies me.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
13 Mar. 2026
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Aubry Bracco is the kind of player who terrifies a certain (male) demographic of Survivor alumni.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Startles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/startles. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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