startle

[stahr-tl]

See more synonyms for startle 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.

Origin of startle

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

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

Synonyms for startle

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1. scare, frighten, astonish. See shock¹.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for startle

alarm, shock, astound, agitate, amaze, stagger, astonish, awe, stun, scare, terrify, terrorize, fright, floor, spring, spook, affright, jump, start, consternate

Examples from the Web for startle

Contemporary Examples of startle

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
The group acknowledged that the tactic “was meant to startle people.”
The Price of the Tea Party
David Frum
June 16, 2012

Historical Examples of startle

I expect to learn something that will startle the Director of Police.
Jennie Baxter, Journalist
Robert Barr
The desire had been strong enough to startle him, to warn him.
A Spirit in Prison
Robert Hichens
If the old man made no will, I'll maybe have summat to say as may startle them a gay bit.
The Shadow of a Crime
Hall Caine
It did not startle him; indeed, he was in a mood when nothing could have caused him wonder.
Tales From Two Hemispheres
Hjalmar Hjorth Boysen
On a question so vast and vital you are bound to startle by any little measure.
Another Sheaf
John Galsworthy

British Dictionary definitions for startle

startle

verb

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

Derived Formsstartler, 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

Word Origin and History for startle

c.1300, "run to and fro," frequentative of sterten (see start (v.)). Sense of "move suddenly in surprise or fear" first recorded 1520s. Transitive meaning "frighten suddenly" is from 1590s. The word retains more of the original meaning of start (v.). Related: Startled; startling.