startled 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of startlednext
1
as in surprised

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in alarmed

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

startled

2 of 2

verb

past tense of startle
1
as in amazed
to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected the lightning startled the children and sent them scurrying for cover

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in jumped
to move suddenly and sharply (as in surprise) the cat startled when the door slammed shut with a bang

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in frightened
to strike with fear loud noises always startle her

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for startled
  1. surprised
  2. alarmed
  3. jumped
  4. stunned
  5. shocked
  6. terrified
  7. awed
  8. astonished
Adjective
  • Lemon, who caught at least six passes in four of USC’s last eight games, wasn’t surprised to see Robinson and Hudson in the portal.
    Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 13 Dec. 2024
  • But don’t be surprised if his next chapter includes skyrocketing to another stratosphere of super stardom, both figuratively and literally.
    Jon Youshaei, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
Definition of surprised
Adjective
  • From his second-floor office in the Scurry County Courthouse, Hicks told the Abilene Reporter-News, part of the USA TODAY Network, workers in the building became alarmed during a5.0 quake Friday, which hit at 9:28 a.m. local time.
    Alexis Simmerman, Austin American-Statesman, 31 July 2024
  • Treasury aides who had once labored in obscurity took recommendations directly to Cabinet officials, who were simultaneously hearing from alarmed Fortune 500 CEOs and the heads of Wall Street banks.
    Federica Cocco, Washington Post, 25 July 2024
Definition of alarmed
Verb
  • Listen to this article A number of rescue crews responded to the waters in Bridgeport after an individual jumped off a ferry boat and plunged into the harbor on Tuesday night.
    Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 11 Dec. 2024
  • The year saw Americans double their international travels in the pursuit of live events, according to a new report from StubHub, as demand for live events jumped by 33% globally compared to 2023.
    Suzanne Rowan Kelleher, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
Definition of jumped
Verb
  • Time ran out, and Bears players stood in the middle of the field stunned.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 10 Dec. 2024
  • The reality is that the region is stunned by what happened.
    Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2024
Definition of stunned
Verb
  • Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi’s arrest.
    Molly Bohannon, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
  • Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi's arrest.
    Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
Definition of shocked
Verb
  • Although conditions in Malibu may not be among the worst firefighters have seen, the Franklin fire has torched several vehicles and left residents who had to flee terrified.
    Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 10 Dec. 2024
  • As the fighting ramped up in September, with daily missile barrages on the entire north, people were terrified of driving, fearing they’d be caught on the roads without shelter.
    Dina Kraft, The Christian Science Monitor, 10 Dec. 2024
Definition of terrified
Adjective
  • With an awed expression and misty eyes, Swift marveled at the waves of aural affection, taking out her ear monitors to fully experience the overwhelming sound.
    Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 9 Dec. 2024
  • Steve Jobs would come at a journalist like the rain in Buenaventura, aggressively pitching his message; Cook envelopes his interlocutors in a gentle mist and confides awed assessments of his company’s efforts.
    Steven Levy, WIRED, 4 Dec. 2024
Definition of awed
Verb
  • After the clip of the Christmas tree being raised from the basement went viral, the feat of engineering certainly astonished millions of internet users.
    Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
  • Their swift move into the capital astonished citizens and the rest of the world.
    Antoinette Radford, CNN, 9 Dec. 2024
Definition of astonished
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Thesaurus Entries Near startled

startle

startled

startlement

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Cite this Entry

“Startled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/startled. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

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More from Merriam-Webster on startled

Nglish: Translation of startled for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of startled for Arabic Speakers

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