startling
adjective
star·tling
ˈstär-tᵊl-iŋ 
ˈstärt-liŋ
: causing momentary fright, surprise, or astonishment
a startling discovery
startlingly
adverb
Synonyms
Examples of startling in a Sentence
Startling new evidence came to light during the trial.
He made a startling discovery.
It is a city of startling contrasts.
Recent Examples on the Web
The final graph shows the most startling comparison.
—
Joel Shulman, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
Davies makes a point of talking about the light in his photographs, but what my colleagues and I find startling is the color palette: The buildings are pale buff and so is much of the landscape around them.
—Owen Davies, Curbed, 4 Nov. 2024
Black Bear Surprises Beachgoers In Destin, Florida 8 Important Safety Tips When Encountering A Bear
While any type of bear encounter can be startling, Garshelis says there are eight important safety tips to remember.
—Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 1 Nov. 2024
The camera closes in on the act, carefully tracking the motion of Lina’s hands in a way that is startling, but not altogether unfamiliar.
—Claire Franken, TVLine, 25 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for startling 
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Joel Shulman, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
Davies makes a point of talking about the light in his photographs, but what my colleagues and I find startling is the color palette: The buildings are pale buff and so is much of the landscape around them.
—Owen Davies, Curbed, 4 Nov. 2024
Black Bear Surprises Beachgoers In Destin, Florida 8 Important Safety Tips When Encountering A Bear
While any type of bear encounter can be startling, Garshelis says there are eight important safety tips to remember.
—Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 1 Nov. 2024
The camera closes in on the act, carefully tracking the motion of Lina’s hands in a way that is startling, but not altogether unfamiliar.
—Claire Franken, TVLine, 25 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for startling
Dictionary Entries Near startling
Cite this Entry
“Startling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/startling. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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