1
as in to amaze
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 to frighten
to strike with fear
loud noises always startle her
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in shock
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of startle
Justin Gest, Newsweek, 11 Feb. 2025
Though friendly toward her until that moment, Tembo was startled by the noise.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025
Kristen Jordan Shamus, Detroit Free Press, 16 Feb. 2023
Henning and Muche let out a startle, however, when a beaver struck the bottom of their canoe.
—Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel, 2 Oct. 2022
See All Example Sentences for startle
Verb
Jonathan O'Neill, an installation engineer from Cookstown, was startled awake by the raging storm and decided to venture outside to secure his garden.
—Justin Gest, Newsweek, 11 Feb. 2025
Though friendly toward her until that moment, Tembo was startled by the noise.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025
Noun
An exaggerated startle response and hypervigilance.
—Kristen Jordan Shamus, Detroit Free Press, 16 Feb. 2023
Henning and Muche let out a startle, however, when a beaver struck the bottom of their canoe.
—Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel, 2 Oct. 2022
See All Example Sentences for startle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for startle
Verb
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What amazed me was that Zeah was already on home detention for a rack of serious criminal charges.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
26 Feb. 2025
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The Chiefs didn’t amaze us on an every-game basis, not really, anyway.—
Sam McDowell,
Kansas City Star,
14 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The Pride jumped out to a 22-3 at the end of the first, had a 40-16 advantage at intermission and led 60-25 lead after the third.—
Alex Kushel,
Sun Sentinel,
2 Mar. 2025
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By the end of March, however, the microalgae’s carbon uptake had jumped, along with the number of cells and the concentration of chlorophyll—proxies for growth and photosynthesis.—
Asher Elbein,
WIRED,
2 Mar. 2025
Verb
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On the streets, conservative protesters, frightened that the left could win the next election, have rallied to Yoon.—
ROBERT E. KELLY,
Foreign Affairs,
12 Feb. 2025
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That frightened stray kitten forgot her fears and moved up on that ball of paper and batted it across the floor and then batted it again.—
Carole Wendt,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2025
Noun
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As trade tensions increase and global supply chains realign, having investment exposure across multiple economic regions reduces portfolio vulnerability to isolated shocks.—
Robert Daugherty,
Forbes,
3 Mar. 2025
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Companies would either try absorbing the expense, which means a drop in revenue, or pass it on to consumers, possibly triggering an upward shock in prices.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
3 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Again, no one should be surprised by Wednesday’s announcement.—
Bill McKibben,
The New Yorker,
28 Feb. 2025
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The announcement did not surprise the market given Trump had previously alluded to the move, during discussion of his upcoming 25% tariffs on steel and aluminium, Piotr Ortonowski, head of copper market analysis at Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, told CNBC.—
Jenni Reid,
CNBC,
27 Feb. 2025
Verb
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By the end of the performance, Andress could be seen tilting her head down, wincing.—
Tomás Mier,
Rolling Stone,
5 Mar. 2025
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The rapper could be seen slapping Rhodes hard on the side of the face, and Rhodes winced as soon as he was hit.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
4 Mar. 2025
Verb
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In 2023, a bear barged into a bakery in Avon, scared employees and helped itself to 60 cupcakes before ambling away.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
1 Mar. 2025
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The Stonewall National Museum, Archives & Library in South Florida claims that that state and federal anti-LGBTQ policies have siphoned off the institution’s operating budget and scared off corporate investors, leaving the museum in financial peril.—
Daniel Cassady,
ARTnews.com,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
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In the months since the militant opposition group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham stunned the world by bringing down the dictatorship of Bashar al-Assad in early December 2024, Syria has faced many pressing concerns.—
PATRICK VINCK,
Foreign Affairs,
4 Mar. 2025
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Maryland has never earned the No. 4 seed in the league tournament and was the No. 5 seed once in 2019 when it was stunned by No. 13 Nebraska in the second round.—
Edward Lee,
Baltimore Sun,
3 Mar. 2025
Articles Related to startle
Cite this Entry
“Startle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/startle. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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