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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.

Last November two members of the Try Guys, a gaggle of broadcasters best known for their experimental exploits on YouTube, made a startling admission to fans: Their podcasts were hemorrhaging money.

From The Wall Street Journal

Forecasts for AI’s disruption of the job market bear a startling resemblance to early predictions for the metaverse.

From Barron's

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

From The Wall Street Journal

He took off his cap and I noticed again that startling orange-red hair.

From Literature

Without warning, the sound had brought startling vision to his mind.

From Literature

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.