startled

[stahr-tld]

adjective

1. 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.

2. expressing such surprise or alarm.

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

verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of startle.

Other Word Forms

• unstartled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of startled¹

startle ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

Consider the FBI under the manifestly incompetent leadership of current director Kash Patel, whose perennially startled demeanor gives actual deer caught in actual headlights a bad name.

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That was apparent from the Second’s opening notes, in which trembling violins and violas sound as if startled awake, ushering in cellos and basses who have begun moving the furniture.

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

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If they acted startled, he would also look startled.

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I flushed when she said my name, and I startled easily and often when she tried to spook me.

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Related Words

• scared 
• shocked www.thesaurus.com
• spooked www.thesaurus.com
• stunned 
• surprised www.thesaurus.com