startling

[stahrt-ling, stahr-tl-ing]

adjective

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

startling

/ ˈstɑːtlɪŋ /

adjective

1. causing surprise or fear; striking; astonishing

Other Word Forms

• startlingly adverb
• unstartling adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of startling¹

startle + -ing ²

Example Sentences

One nearby resident, Mark Rogers, told the Los Angeles Times that the blast was startling for people nearby.

From BBC

The lawyers’ request for the $50,000 bond came in a Washington federal court filing, and it’s a startling example of “pay-to-play” justice.

From Salon

It's a startling admission - a year after winning a record six Brit Awards in a single night, Raye still worries about the precarious nature of success.

From BBC

And in Paul Thomas Anderson’s sprawling contemporary epic “One Battle After Another,” it’s startling just how comforting a cinematic hand on the shoulder can be.

From Salon

"The really startling ones struck me when we were installing them, like the really bright red lipstick that you get on what are essentially babies, and some with bright red or orange eyes."

From BBC

Related Words

• alarming 
• astonishing 
• shocking 
• surprising 
• unexpected