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
  • Campaign-finance expert Meredith McGehee, former head of the nonpartisan political reform group Issue One, wasn’t surprised that Harris had such an advantage.
    Zach Everson, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
  • Chan was surprised to discover that her boyfriend frequently sends GIFs, a practice foreign to her but supposedly more common among younger millennials.
    Melissa Fleur Afshar, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Definition of surprised
Adjective
  • As Erik becomes more worked up, an alarmed Oziel calls Lyle in, and Lyle threatens to kill Oziel.
    Olivia B. Waxman, TIME, 20 Sep. 2024
  • But the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, did not seem alarmed or even particularly surprised by the apocalyptic rhetoric.
    Simon Shuster, TIME, 3 Oct. 2024
Definition of alarmed
Verb
  • Her follower count jumped from 6,000 to over 1 million people in just seven days.
    CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 4 Oct. 2024
  • According to Capgemini's research, the percentage of large companies that have adopted generative AI has jumped from 6% last year to 24% this year.
    Bernard Marr, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
Definition of jumped
Verb
  • Eminem, stunned, then holds a photo of a sonogram while Jade smiles and laughs at her dad’s reaction to the news.
    Alli Rosenbloom, CNN, 3 Oct. 2024
  • Video showing a Kentucky judge being gunned down in his chambers was played Tuesday during a court hearing for the ex-sheriff who is charged in the killing that stunned their Appalachian community.
    CBS News, CBS News, 2 Oct. 2024
Definition of stunned
Verb
  • Parents of students at Markle Middle School told local outlets they were shocked to learn that the district had installed windows in bathrooms, pushing back against Gelazela’s claim that students’ privacy rights were not affected.
    Samantha Riedel, Them, 4 Oct. 2024
  • Take the quiz here … DIGITAL NEWS QUIZ – Russia shocked the US near which state?
    Fox News, Fox News, 4 Oct. 2024
Definition of shocked
Verb
  • But Hurricane Helene’s torrential rains, which caused deadly landslides and floods, left Carolyn terrified.
    John Bacon, USA TODAY, 4 Oct. 2024
  • And yet, the Menendez brothers want Netflix viewers to know that they were terrified about speaking out about their father.
    Olivia B. Waxman, TIME, 3 Oct. 2024
Definition of terrified
Adjective
  • Hereafter is ultimately too touchy-feely for its own good — too awed by its modest musings on the mystery of being alive — and the film suggests Damon isn’t so great at playing characters with a mystical bent.
    Will Leitch, Vulture, 9 Aug. 2024
  • For a moment, there is what could be described as an awed pause, before a vaping assistant breaks the spell.
    Nathan Heller, Vogue, 17 Oct. 2024
Definition of awed
Verb
  • Even Jeff still seems astonished to be in the presence of one of hip-hop’s founding innovators.
    Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 4 Oct. 2024
  • That meant those showing up in New Zealand were astonished to discover their task was to climb the New Zealand Fiji Mountains within 14 days.
    Mark Peikert, IndieWire, 29 Sep. 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 21 Nov. 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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