1
as in amazed
to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected
the lightning startled the children and sent them scurrying for cover
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in jumped
to move suddenly and sharply (as in surprise)
the cat startled when the door slammed shut with a bang
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in frightened
to strike with fear
loud noises always startle her
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in surprised
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
2
as in alarmed
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of startled
Sara Netzley, EW.com, 27 Aug. 2025
But when expert judgment was most needed, the autopilot abruptly handed control back to the startled crew, and flooded the zone with urgent, confusing warnings.
—David Autor, The Atlantic, 24 Aug. 2025
The Grammy-winning rapper surprises each of the startled women with a gift, a live beating heart, still pumping blood outside the body.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 19 Aug. 2025
The other child was still inside the minivan when the thief hopped into the front seat and drove off before the startled dad had time to react, police said.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 10 Aug. 2025
Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
While some dogs are more confident, others may become easily startled by noises, objects, or movements that appear harmless to humans.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
Topa startled by knee pain Trying to close out the game, right-hander Justin Topa made a pitch in the ninth inning and felt a pain in his knee similar to the patellar tendon injury that ruined most of his 2024 season.
—David Brown, Twin Cities, 8 Sep. 2025
Then the Buckel brothers arrived, intent on doing the same, and Smith was startled.
—Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 4 Sep. 2025
Another Epstein accuser looked up, startled, to see where the deafening sound was coming from.
—Josh Meyer, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
Moments later, Bell and her sister were startled by a gunshot and found that the boy, Demeir Aston Douglas, shot himself between the eyes in his bedroom, according to prosecutors.
—William Lee, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2025
The cars are startled by a ghost car named Brenda (a perfectly imperfect name), who introduces them to other friendly ghost vehicles, most of whom have experienced deadly crashes and now honk funny.
—Sloane Crosley, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
Three descendants of one of those original colonies were startled by the whir of Captain Brett’s fan motor and, with Busby Berkeley synchronicity, dived from the bank into the muddy water.
—Nathaniel Rich, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
Verb
Steven reacts like a startled cat when Belly tells him, then pivots to comfort and action.
—Sara Netzley, EW.com, 27 Aug. 2025
But when expert judgment was most needed, the autopilot abruptly handed control back to the startled crew, and flooded the zone with urgent, confusing warnings.
—David Autor, The Atlantic, 24 Aug. 2025
The Grammy-winning rapper surprises each of the startled women with a gift, a live beating heart, still pumping blood outside the body.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 19 Aug. 2025
The other child was still inside the minivan when the thief hopped into the front seat and drove off before the startled dad had time to react, police said.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 10 Aug. 2025
Adjective
Seagulls lift off the beach, startled by the sudden salty cacophony.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
While some dogs are more confident, others may become easily startled by noises, objects, or movements that appear harmless to humans.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
Topa startled by knee pain Trying to close out the game, right-hander Justin Topa made a pitch in the ninth inning and felt a pain in his knee similar to the patellar tendon injury that ruined most of his 2024 season.
—David Brown, Twin Cities, 8 Sep. 2025
Then the Buckel brothers arrived, intent on doing the same, and Smith was startled.
—Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 4 Sep. 2025
Another Epstein accuser looked up, startled, to see where the deafening sound was coming from.
—Josh Meyer, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
Moments later, Bell and her sister were startled by a gunshot and found that the boy, Demeir Aston Douglas, shot himself between the eyes in his bedroom, according to prosecutors.
—William Lee, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2025
The cars are startled by a ghost car named Brenda (a perfectly imperfect name), who introduces them to other friendly ghost vehicles, most of whom have experienced deadly crashes and now honk funny.
—Sloane Crosley, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
Three descendants of one of those original colonies were startled by the whir of Captain Brett’s fan motor and, with Busby Berkeley synchronicity, dived from the bank into the muddy water.
—Nathaniel Rich, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for startled
Verb
-
The battle was turbo-charged when Powell surprised markets with a 50 basis point inflation hike in September last year, seen by some as a gift to Trump’s Democratic Party election rival Kamala Harris.—
Billy Bambrough,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
-
The council’s resolution surprised me.—
Beth Lew-Williams,
New Yorker,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Over the same time period, the S&P 500 jumped 20%.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Jungwirth pulled out a gun, jumped over the counter and pointed the gun at the 38-year-old clerk.—
Nick Ferraro,
Twin Cities,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Family pets, especially dogs, are frightened by the noise and will hide or try to run away.—
Phil Diehl,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Aug. 2025
-
In the first Nobody, Odenkirk’s Hutch has to reignite the sleeping assassin within himself after his family was frightened by a botched home invasion.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Parents will be especially alarmed and this will place terrible burdens on pediatricians who will need to assuage their worries in order to provide important protections against serious and sometimes fatal diseases.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
-
That move alarmed Israeli officials who question the motives of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former al-Qaeda commander.—
Gram Slattery,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Andrew Harnik | Getty Images Shares of Oracle surged 36% in yesterday’s session after the company’s cloud growth estimates amazed Wall Street.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
11 Sep. 2025
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The 90-yard dash along the right sideline one play after Ruvalcaba’s interception amazed his teammates.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Parents, scared by the specter of brain damage, are reluctant to let their kids play tackle football.—
Seth Wickersham,
The Atlantic,
8 Sep. 2025
-
His home’s security system was triggered and reportedly scared off the burglar, and nothing was stolen from the property.—
Christina Dugan Ramirez,
FOXNews.com,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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In a recent video posted to the AI Bible's Youtube channel, buildings crumble and terrified-looking people claw their way through the rubble.—
Geoff Brumfiel,
NPR,
7 Sep. 2025
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Ed and Lorraine are the beautiful, tragic saviors of a terrified family confronted with a deep evil, strengthened by the power of their love for each other.—
Emily Palmer Heller,
Vulture,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Jerry Neuheisel, assistant head coach and tight ends coach, running his hands through his blond hair, stunned.—
Mirjam Swanson,
Oc Register,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Seoul, South Korea — More than 300 South Korean workers detained by immigration authorities in Georgia last week arrived home on Friday, marking the end of a saga that has stunned their nation and threatened to upend a close bilateral friendship between the US and South Korea.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Startled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/startled. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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