startle
verb (used with object)
to disturb or agitate suddenly as by surprise or alarm.
were startling
-
past progressiveof startle.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
Substack plays an important role in this story, and even to media professionals its appearance and prominence over the past few years were startling and unexpected.
From Salon ● Feb. 2, 2025
Some of the similarities between the manifesto and Ted’s writings were startling.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 10, 2023
The final results were startling: 97% of 58,000 Toeics taken in Britain between 2011 and 2014 were judged suspicious - 33,663 were invalid and 22,476 questionable.
From BBC ● Feb. 8, 2022
These were startling and stirring words, the kind that hogtie your attention.
From New York Times ● Apr. 4, 2021
They were startling gray, like storm clouds; pretty, but intimidating, too, as if she were analyzing the best way to take me down in a fight.
From "The Lightning Thief" by Rick Riordan
