startled

American  

[stahr-tld] / ˈstɑr tld /

adjective

1. disturbed or agitated suddenly, as by surprise or alarm.

   Seeing startled herons and egrets flee at the sound of 35 teenagers was a highlight for kids who rarely see birds in their natural habitat.

2. expressing such surprise or alarm.

   A startled cry escaped my throat as I was roughly pulled to my feet by the bodyguard.

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verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of startle.

Other Word Forms

• unstartled adjective

Etymology

Origin of startled

startle ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

The onstage dispute between Shapiro and Carlson startled some in the audience, who said it was unexpected, given Kirk’s skill in bringing disparate voices from politics and online media together at his events.

From The Wall Street Journal

Many emergency management experts were startled after the January fires to learn that the L.A.

From Los Angeles Times

As the show starts in the 500-seat theatre in Huddersfield, bright lights wash over the children's faces, their ears startled by the band.

From BBC

A single tear emerges from the astronaut’s eye and simply floats in the air while Mariano, startled and mesmerized, looks on.

From The Wall Street Journal

The bear, however, startled Johnson when it roared at him Friday morning.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• scared
• shocked
• spooked
• stunned
• surprised