Synonyms

startled

American

[stahr-tld] / ˈstɑr tld /

adjective

disturbed or agitated suddenly, as by surprise or alarm.

Seeing startled herons and egrets flee at the sound of 35 teenagers was a highlight for kids who rarely see birds in their natural habitat.
expressing such surprise or alarm.

A startled cry escaped my throat as I was roughly pulled to my feet by the bodyguard.

verb

the simple past tense and past participle of startle.

Other Word Forms

unstartled adjective

Etymology

Origin of startled

startle ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

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.

"The fracture caused a very loud snapping noise that actually startled me. I thought at first the machine had broken, but soon realized that the noise came from the stretching fluid."

From Science Daily • Mar. 30, 2026

US President Donald Trump on Thursday startled Japan's prime minister by mentioning the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, a seemingly light-hearted remark sure to elicit unease in a country now a firm US ally.

From Barron's • Mar. 19, 2026

You’d assume from the pose that she’s sleeping, except her eyes are wide open, and in this frightened or startled expression.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 13, 2026

Speaking on the red carpet at the London premiere, he looked a bit startled and paused for a period, before answering: "Yes. Yes."

From BBC • Feb. 13, 2026

The noise at the door startled all who were awake, but it was only the doctor, looking pale and rumpled, as befits a man who was called to work in the middle of the night.

From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood

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