startled; startling
ˈstär-tᵊl-iŋ 
ˈstärt-liŋ
: to move or jump suddenly (as in surprise or alarm)
the baby startles easily
: to frighten or surprise suddenly and usually not seriously
: a sudden mild shock (as of surprise or alarm)
Synonyms
Examples of startle in a Sentence
Verb
I'm sorry that I startled you.
the lightning startled the children and sent them scurrying for cover
Recent Examples on the Web
Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 3 Oct. 2024
According to Benson and Bertone, the most common pantry pests include:
Cigarette beetles are 1/8-inch brownish bugs with a long rounded to oval shape; when startled, the adults tuck in their head and legs and remain still.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 23 Sep. 2024
Lauren Leffer, Scientific American, 23 Jan. 2024
For very small babies, swaddling the arms is effective at reducing their startle reflex—which can be disruptive to sleep.
—Samson McDougall, Parents, 8 Sep. 2023
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Verb
Not wanting to startle the boy, Green turned his phone to face him with trees in the backdrop.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 3 Oct. 2024
According to Benson and Bertone, the most common pantry pests include:
Cigarette beetles are 1/8-inch brownish bugs with a long rounded to oval shape; when startled, the adults tuck in their head and legs and remain still.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 23 Sep. 2024
Noun
Vasas and her colleagues also captured the brief startle display of a black swallowtail caterpillar and saw for the first time that its hornlike defense appendages are UV-reflective.
—Lauren Leffer, Scientific American, 23 Jan. 2024
For very small babies, swaddling the arms is effective at reducing their startle reflex—which can be disruptive to sleep.
—Samson McDougall, Parents, 8 Sep. 2023
See all Example Sentences for startle
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Cite this Entry
“Startle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/startle. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
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