startle
to disturb or agitate suddenly as by surprise or alarm.
to cause to start involuntarily, by or as by a sudden shock.
to start involuntarily, as from a shock of surprise or alarm.
a sudden shock of surprise, alarm, or the like.
something that startles.
Origin of startle
1synonym study For startle
Other words for startle
Other words from startle
- star·tle·ment, noun
- star·tler, noun
- out·star·tle, verb (used with object), out·star·tled, out·star·tling.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use startle in a sentence
He seemed keen and sanguine when we met and made no reference to this letter: so it comes in now as rather a startler.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I | Ian HamiltonHe fired his "Artistic Joke" off, the shot went home, and the effect was a startler for many people and in many places.
And suppose it goes off while you are lighting it, and gives you a startler, and sends us all to the bottom, how then?
Rob Harlow's Adventures | George Manville FennOf course, I only meant, in my annoyance at his dozing off at such a time, to give him a startler.
Stan Lynn | George Manville FennHe felt certain that the Major was going to give him a startler, more dreadful perhaps than those he had had with his lordship.
Ask Momma | R. S. Surtees
British Dictionary definitions for startle
/ (ˈstɑːtəl) /
to be or cause to be surprised or frightened, esp so as to start involuntarily
Origin of startle
1Derived forms of startle
- startler, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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