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Synonyms

startling

American  
[stahrt-ling, stahr-tl-ing] / ˈstɑrt lɪŋ, ˈstɑr tl ɪŋ /

adjective

  1. creating sudden alarm, surprise, or wonder; astonishing.

startling British  
/ ˈstɑːtlɪŋ /

adjective

  1. causing surprise or fear; striking; astonishing

"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

Other Word Forms

  • startlingly adverb
  • unstartling adjective

Etymology

Origin of startling

startle + -ing 2

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.

Depression and desensitization are fueled by easy access to the most startling, graphic images one could imagine, all one click away.

From Salon • Apr. 3, 2026

It was a startling scene, even for residents like Denise Evans, who has seen it all over the years.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026

Turning in startling performances in such modest films as “Steve” and “Small Things Like These.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

While "ravens are already well-known for their intelligence," lead author Matthias-Claudio Loretto told AFP, seeing these cognitive abilities "play out at a much larger scale in the wild" produced startling results.

From Barron's • Mar. 12, 2026

Soon she was startling everyone with her insights.

From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.