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View synonyms for startle
startle
[ stahr-tl ]
verb (used with object)
startled, startling.
- to disturb or agitate suddenly as by surprise or alarm.
- to cause to start involuntarily, by or as by a sudden shock.
verb (used without object)
startled, startling.
- to start involuntarily, as from a shock of surprise or alarm.
noun
- a sudden shock of surprise, alarm, or the like.
- something that startles.
startle
/ ˈstɑːtəl /
verb
- to be or cause to be surprised or frightened, esp so as to start involuntarily
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Derived Forms
- ˈstartler, noun
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Other Words From
- star·tle·ment noun
- star·tler noun
- out·star·tle verb (used with object) outstartled outstartling
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Word History and Origins
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Word History and Origins
Origin of startle1
Old English steartlian to stumble; related to Middle High German starzen to strut, Norwegian sterta to strain oneself
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Synonym Study
See shock 1.
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Example Sentences
Back in January 2019, the president’s lies and attempts to shape reality with Sharpies were startling but feckless, to drop that era's defining term.
From Salon
While her decision to stand down as an MSP was obvious and much anticipated, it still has the capacity to startle.
From BBC
The improvement of the Chatsworth players around Arenas has been startling compared to last year.
From Los Angeles Times
There was also a magnitude 4.7 on Sept. 12 — startling enough that the city’s mayor and his wife dove under their kitchen table.
From Los Angeles Times
Those are the startling claims being made by a US company that said on Tuesday it had created mice with "mammoth-like traits".
From BBC
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