1
as in surprised
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Dissimilar Words
2
as in alarmed
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in stunned
to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected
the lightning startled the children and sent them scurrying for cover
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
3
as in frightened
to strike with fear
loud noises always startle her
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of startled
Tom Vanderbilt, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Mar. 2026
And Mondragon, for his part, looked a little startled to be stopped this quickly.
—Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026
Jordan was visibly startled when Davidson yelled from the auditorium as audience members gasped.
—John Ross, Vanity Fair, 23 Feb. 2026
Dwayne was startled when a scout approached him and referred to his son as an NBA prospect.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 7 Feb. 2026
If guests are startled — or, more likely, amused — at your father’s being tieless and wearing sneakers, that is his problem.
—Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2026
Their physical reactions to being startled were stronger, and their heart rates were higher.
—Marta Hill, Scientific American, 14 Jan. 2026
Revell was startled to find just one Northern California company, Devastating Pyrotechnics, had imported from T-SKY – and the company lacked a license to sell consumer fireworks in California.
—Joe Rubin, Sacbee.com, 13 Jan. 2026
The fish was equally startled by me.
—Susan Casey, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2026
Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 23 Mar. 2026
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
On one hole, a volunteer walked behind him and startled him, triggering panic.
—Gabby Herzig, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2026
Stock markets started Monday with significant losses as investors were startled by the spike in oil and gas prices.
—Jared Gans, The Hill, 10 Mar. 2026
Prosecutors allege Joshua Alvarado, 30, passed out at the wheel of his pickup truck while driving to work and was startled awake by other drivers honking at him.
—Katie Houlis, CBS News, 7 Mar. 2026
In the early hours of Sunday morning, as a bar in a busy nightlife district of Austin, Texas, prepared to close for the night, patrons and staff were startled by the sound of gunshots.
—Amanda Musa, CNN Money, 2 Mar. 2026
At first, the banker is startled.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
The first of the three legs in an inaugural fundraiser called the Wagora Bike Ride unspools along rocky red clay roads and through rutted jeep tracks, past braying herds of zebra and startled warthogs.
—Tom Vanderbilt, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Mar. 2026
And Mondragon, for his part, looked a little startled to be stopped this quickly.
—Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026
Jordan was visibly startled when Davidson yelled from the auditorium as audience members gasped.
—John Ross, Vanity Fair, 23 Feb. 2026
Dwayne was startled when a scout approached him and referred to his son as an NBA prospect.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 7 Feb. 2026
If guests are startled — or, more likely, amused — at your father’s being tieless and wearing sneakers, that is his problem.
—Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2026
Their physical reactions to being startled were stronger, and their heart rates were higher.
—Marta Hill, Scientific American, 14 Jan. 2026
Revell was startled to find just one Northern California company, Devastating Pyrotechnics, had imported from T-SKY – and the company lacked a license to sell consumer fireworks in California.
—Joe Rubin, Sacbee.com, 13 Jan. 2026
The fish was equally startled by me.
—Susan Casey, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2026
Verb
The missiles startled an Israeli public that has endured comparatively few casualties in recent weeks thanks to the country’s formidable air defenses, frequently tested across many years by rockets from militant groups Hezbollah and Hamas.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 23 Mar. 2026
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
On one hole, a volunteer walked behind him and startled him, triggering panic.
—Gabby Herzig, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2026
Stock markets started Monday with significant losses as investors were startled by the spike in oil and gas prices.
—Jared Gans, The Hill, 10 Mar. 2026
Prosecutors allege Joshua Alvarado, 30, passed out at the wheel of his pickup truck while driving to work and was startled awake by other drivers honking at him.
—Katie Houlis, CBS News, 7 Mar. 2026
In the early hours of Sunday morning, as a bar in a busy nightlife district of Austin, Texas, prepared to close for the night, patrons and staff were startled by the sound of gunshots.
—Amanda Musa, CNN Money, 2 Mar. 2026
At first, the banker is startled.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 27 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for startled
Adjective
-
Those familiar with Minnelli’s chaotic late period might be surprised to learn that she was initially perceived as a pillar of stability.—
Matt Weinstock,
New Yorker,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Plans are in place to relocate the statue to land belonging to the Department of Veterans and Military Affairs, and during work last year to remove the remaining pedestal base, a crane crew was surprised to discover a tin box in a hole beneath it.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The exemption, however, has alarmed residents, who have spoken up at county board meetings and launched a community organization, Not in My Backyard Imperial, to protest the data center and demand a CEQA review.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Refugee advocates were alarmed, asking if women raised under an oppressive regime could be expected to question the Australian government’s media strategy.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The original footage showed something remarkable — dogs acting with coordination, loyalty, and determination that stunned viewers.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
25 Mar. 2026
-
The news stunned California, where Chavez rose to national prominence in the mid-1960s as a galvanizing force for better pay and working conditions for agricultural laborers.—
Kevinisha Walker,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The biotech company jumped 20% after Apogee released positive Phase 2 results for its zumilokibart treatment for moderate to severe atopic dermatitis.—
Scott Schnipper,
CNBC,
23 Mar. 2026
-
That number had jumped to more than 72,000 by the end of January 2026.—
Eric Westervelt,
NPR,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
That habit didn’t endear the Alspaws to anyone nearby, including one neighbor who threatened to shoot Brittany after the Alspaws frightened his horses.—
Tessa Stuart,
Rolling Stone,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Konstantin, 4, a sociable boy, is often frightened by loud noises and guards, his parents said.—
Mike Hixenbaugh,
NBC news,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Castro, who spent the day with Mejia and often translated for her, described Mejia as awed and giddy throughout the day.—
Emiliano Tahui Gómez,
Austin American Statesman,
17 Mar. 2026
-
And the second-to-none acoustics, with 10,000 state-of-the-art fiber panels that project sound throughout the theater, will leave you awed.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
But since the arrival of the feds, families had grown too terrified to leave home.—
Daniel Brook,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Video footage from the rescue shows the terrified dog shivering as the officer calls her.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Melissa's rapid intensification and high winds and atypical hurricane behavior amazed even some of the more experienced scientists who study tropical cyclones, thanks in part to its journey over some exceptionally warm waters in the Caribbean.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
25 Feb. 2026
-
What amazed me the most was the remains of what appeared to be a tall conifer — possibly a cypress or cedar — on Edgar Street in Pacific Palisades, where the Palisades fire ravaged an entire street.—
Jeanette Marantos,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Startled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/startled. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
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