startled 1 of 2

adjective

1
as in surprised

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2
as in alarmed

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startled

2 of 2

verb

past tense of startle
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
as in jumped
to move suddenly and sharply (as in surprise) the cat startled when the door slammed shut with a bang

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3
as in frightened
to strike with fear loud noises always startle her

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 startled
Adjective
In the past, horses have collapsed, gotten startled and run off, hitting cars or other objects, with each accident resulting in fresh calls for a ban. — Anthony Izaguirre, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026 Ewart, 43, a fellow opponent of the data center project, was startled to hear that. — ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026 The startled deputy lets out a scream and races back toward his patrol vehicle. — Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2026 The feline was then released back into the wild, startled but safe. — Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 2 Sep. 2026 Her face, indisputably middle-aged, had a pensive, startled quality. — Madhuri Vijay, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026 Even general manager Jonah Kaplan is a little startled by the café’s increasing popularity. — Miami Herald, 6 Aug. 2026 As a Flamengo defender attempted to pass the ball to a teammate, the blue-and-yellow bird dove straight toward him, sending the startled teen crashing to the ground in a panic. — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 5 Aug. 2026 One of them who’d worked with Juliatra-Monoth gave him a startled look. — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 26 June 2026
Verb
Surveillance footage & evidence Police reviewed surveillance footage in the area, which showed the two gunshot victims walking, then appear startled, according to court records. — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2026 However, startled by the activation of the security system, the suspect fled the scene without stealing any loot. — Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 5 Oct. 2026 Their approach startled the predator, who took off with the mother godwit in its claws. — Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2026 While holding Gnocchi, a large street cleaning truck whipped down the street and startled him into clawing away. — Emily Tarinelli, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026 This horror movie mostly just smelled of fake fog from a community theater production and occasionally you were startled by random bursts of air, once again pulling you from the events on screen. — Meredith G. White, AZCentral.com, 28 Aug. 2026 Silver carp can be startled by boat engines, launching themselves as high as 10 feet from the water and sometimes injuring boaters. — Caitlin Looby, jsonline.com, 27 Aug. 2026 Of those who were injured, officials said that many were hurt while falling down or hitting themselves against furniture after being startled by the earthquake while sleeping. — Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 23 Aug. 2026 There’s nothing worse than waking up in the middle of a super restful sleep cycle, whether you are startled by the neighbor’s dog or an unwanted text message. — Alexandra Frost, USA Today, 17 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for startled
  1. surprised
  2. alarmed
  3. stunned
  4. jumped
  5. frightened
  6. awed
  7. terrified
  8. amazed
Adjective
  • Zygielbaum was surprised however that the DOJ reached out only to him, and not the Republican clerk in neighboring Weld County, which also houses a sizable portion of that same congressional district.
    — Miles Parks, NPR, 22 Oct. 2026
  • But Pearson said that he’s been surprised at times by his rural support.
    — Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of surprised
Adjective
  • Five months into the outbreak, health authorities remain alarmed.
    — Constant Same Bagalwa, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
  • People who have a very high panic threshold nonetheless feel very alarmed by what’s happened.
    — Caroline Mimbs Nyce, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of alarmed
Verb
  • Debbie Sullivan, who has lived in the neighborhood just west of Country Walk for more than 30 years, told CBS News Miami she was stunned by the violence in her community.
    — Sergio Candido, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Resigned to releasing it themselves on YouTube, Sakurai and André were stunned when Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim took a flyer on the series in 2010.
    — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of stunned
Verb
  • Argyle jumped out to a 14-0 lead less than three minutes into the game, starting the scoring with a 27-yard Logan Rexroat touchdown and, after a fumble recovery on the ensuing kickoff, a 26-yard TD reception from Ake O’Neal.
    — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2026
  • At the grand opening of a store, a man jumped out of a blimp into the parking lot.
    — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of jumped
Verb
  • Guitarricadelafuente said he was initially frightened by the prospect of acting in La Bola Negra.
    — Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Douglas admitted that his father’s behavior left him and brother Joel frightened.
    — Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of frightened
Adjective
  • The syrupy strings, treacly piano and awed choral vocals conjure an atmosphere of strained enchantment, suggesting a film burdened by fatal amounts of whimsy and emotional manipulation.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Related Articles The runway appearance of both Hosk and Palvin has set the internet aflame, with awed viewers commending the new moms and calling attention to the indelible power of women.
    — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of awed
Adjective
  • Synagogues canceled Sabbath prayers, while terrified Jewish citizens were warned to conceal skullcaps and flee home.
    — Staff, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Word spread across the city that the Taliban had kill lists of Afghan women activists, and hundreds of terrified women went into hiding.
    — Azadeh Moaveni, Vanity Fair, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of terrified
Verb
  • Larry remarks, amazed all these years later by this odd before-they-were-stars encounter.
    — Blake J. Harris, Vulture, 12 Oct. 2026
  • And especially with the stock market—I’m amazed the stock market still hasn’t really taken the hit.
    — Victoria Feng, The Atlantic, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of amazed

Browse Nearby Words

startle
startled
startlement
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Cite this Entry

“Startled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/startled. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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