startle

[stahr-tl]

verb (used with object)

startled, startling 

1. to disturb or agitate suddenly as by surprise or alarm.

   Synonyms: astonish, frighten, scare

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

verb (used without object)

startled, startling 

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

noun

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

2. something that startles.

startle

/ ˈstɑːtəl /

verb

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

Other Word Forms

• startler noun
• startlement noun
• outstartle verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of startle¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of startle¹

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

Synonym Study

See shock ¹.

Example Sentences

Candy’s son, Christopher, and his daughter, Jennifer, partially attribute Candy’s chronic anxiety and health problems to this massive childhood trauma and the startling lack of response to it.

Read more on Salon

A military horse that bolted through central London after being startled by construction work has retired to the country.

Read more on BBC

The star was also in a constant battle with stage fright—a startling admission for a larger-than-life performer with a reputation for spooky, unnerving antics.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“They are euphoric,” he writes in “Hostage,” a book of startling eloquence, unimaginable anguish and exceptionally restrained rage.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

A more exotic and startling sense of accomplishment.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• agitate 
• alarm 
• amaze 
• astonish 
• astound 
• awe 
• scare 
• shake up 
• shock 
• stagger 
• stun 
• terrify