Synonyms

startle

American

[stahr-tl] / ˈstɑr tl /

verb (used with object)

startled, startling

to disturb or agitate suddenly as by surprise or alarm.

Synonyms:

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

verb (used without object)

startled, startling

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

noun

a sudden shock of surprise, alarm, or the like.
something that startles.

startle British

/ ˈstɑːtəl /

verb

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

"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

Related Words

See shock ¹.

Other Word Forms

outstartle verb (used with object)
startlement noun
startler noun

Etymology

Origin of startle

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”

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.

McVay initially yelled and tried to make herself bigger to startle away the predator.

From Los Angeles Times

Gentle or not, the move startled C.C., who pulled away in defense.

From Literature

I was so startled by this I stood up.

From Literature

The witch looked startled, but then she smiled.

From Literature

What was most startling was that no one saw this coming.

From Barron's

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023