startle

[ stahr-tl ]

/ ˈstɑr tl /

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See synonyms for: startle / startled / startling on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), star·tled, star·tling.

to disturb or agitate suddenly as by surprise or alarm.

to cause to start involuntarily, by or as by a sudden shock.

verb (used without object), star·tled, star·tling.

to start involuntarily, as from a shock of surprise or alarm.

noun

a sudden shock of surprise, alarm, or the like.

something that startles.

OTHER WORDS FOR startle

1 scare, frighten, astonish.

See synonyms for startle on Thesaurus.com

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azure

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Origin of startle

First recorded before 1100; Middle English stertlen “to rush, caper,” equivalent to stert(en) “to begin, start” (see start + -(e)len -le, or continuing Old English steartlian “to kick, struggle”

synonym study for startle

1. See shock¹.

OTHER WORDS FROM startle

star·tle·ment, nounstar·tler, nounout·star·tle, verb (used with object), out·star·tled, out·star·tling.

Words nearby startle

starting handle, starting price, starting rate, starting stalls, start in on, startle, startle colour, startled, startle epilepsy, startle reflex, startling

How to use startle in a sentence

Not only is this comfortable for your little one, but it suppresses their startle reflexes which encourages them to sleep longer and keeps them warm without the use of loose blankets, which can be dangerous.
Swaddles to keep your little one cozy and comfortable|PopSci Commerce Team|January 11, 2021|Popular-Science
They startle viewers, rouse viewers, occasionally put off and occasionally turn on viewers.
‘Veep’ Is a F*@king Masterclass in Cursing|Kevin Fallon|April 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The group acknowledged that the tactic “was meant to startle people.”
The Price of the Tea Party|David Frum|June 16, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The French women certainly talk with a freedom which would startle an English or American female.
Travels through the South of France and the Interior of Provinces of Provence and Languedoc in the Years 1807 and 1808|Lt-Col. Pinkney

The striking originality of this idea will startle any one who has never heard of such a thing before.
The Autobiography of a Play|Bronson Howard
"You oughtn't to slip up an' s-startle a lady that-a-way," she said with grave rebuke, and Hale looked humbled.
The Trail of the Lonesome Pine|John Fox, Jr.
While the Constitution lasts, they are repressed; they spring up to annoy and startle us only from its grave.
Select Speeches of Daniel Webster|Daniel Webster
But Merriwell feared to startle the old man, and therefore he did not call.
Frank Merriwell's Pursuit|Burt L. Standish

British Dictionary definitions for startle

startle

/ (ˈstɑːtəl) /

verb

to be or cause to be surprised or frightened, esp so as to start involuntarily

Derived forms of startle

startler, noun

Word Origin for startle

Old English steartlian to stumble; related to Middle High German starzen to strut, Norwegian sterta to strain oneself

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

startle

OTHER WORDS FOR startle

Origin of startle

synonym study for startle

OTHER WORDS FROM startle

Words nearby startle

Words related to startle

How to use startle in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for startle

Derived forms of startle

Word Origin for startle