star·tle
ˈstär-tᵊl 
startled; startling
ˈstär-tᵊl-iŋ
ˈstärt-liŋ
: to move or jump suddenly (as in surprise or alarm)
the baby startles easily
: to frighten or surprise suddenly and usually not seriously
: a sudden mild shock (as of surprise or alarm)
Synonyms of startle
Examples of startle in a Sentence
Verb
I'm sorry that I startled you.
the lightning startled the children and sent them scurrying for cover
Recent Examples on the Web
Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 21 Mar. 2026
But on a Sunday morning in July 1595, the groan of the heavy wooden door startled him from his gesticulations.
—Literary Hub, 19 Mar. 2026
Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2025
Knott’s Berry Farm associate producer Pasta Rago showed me how to do the startle scare and lunge.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for startle
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Verb
When startled, silver carp can leap several feet out of the water and injure boaters.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 21 Mar. 2026
But on a Sunday morning in July 1595, the groan of the heavy wooden door startled him from his gesticulations.
—Literary Hub, 19 Mar. 2026
Noun
The wife, who’d been fixated on the cages, shook with a startle, as if waking from a dream.
—Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2025
Knott’s Berry Farm associate producer Pasta Rago showed me how to do the startle scare and lunge.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for startle
Cite this Entry
“Startle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/startle. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
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