have startled
- present perfect of startle.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A presumption that there is an undercurrent of simmering rage in day-to-day life has taken hold in ways that might have startled past generations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 23, 2026
Having spoken up about this in the early months of 2020, Metzl encountered resistance that seems to have startled and aggrieved him.
From New York Times ● Jul. 25, 2023
These discoveries, which would have startled most neurologists and neuroscientists a few decades ago, highlight the importance of recognizing this hidden conscious state and developing ways to communicate with people who are in it.
From Scientific American ● Oct. 21, 2022
Six months ago, the noise might have startled Andriy, who had moved to Western Europe to pursue a career in engineering.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 29, 2022
A noise must have startled her, because she twitched and turned into a blue bird.
From "Aru Shah and the End of Time" by Roshani Chokshi
