startlement

Definition of startlementnext
as in astonishment
the state of being strongly impressed by something unexpected or unusual the look of startlement in her eyes when she found herself at the wedding seated next to her ex-boyfriend

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for startlement
Noun
  • Whispers ripple in astonishment, and nods of approval are seen throughout the audience.
    Zoe Bahjat, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Mar. 2026
  • To his astonishment, the country’s Central Statistics Office had dropped price tracking of the nation’s most popular beer in 2011.
    Jake Angelo, Fortune, 30 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Karlsson joined Muse and Crosby in his amazement after being sent off despite little to do with the melee.
    CBS News, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
  • Or Scott Spiezio, whose three-run thunderbolt into the right field box seats in Game 6 of the World Series against San Francisco started the comeback from a 3-2 series deficit that led to those looks of shocked amazement among long-time Angels employees the next night.
    Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 17 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • But Wright’s fieldwork largely predates the AI shock that has breathed new life into this push.
    Catherine Thorbecke, Twin Cities, 25 Apr. 2026
  • Leicester City achieved a similar feat 10 years ago, but that’s considered the greatest shock in modern football history.
    Elias Burke, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Back barring a surprise Marco Kasper Kasper’s second NHL season didn’t go according to plan, with his production dropping from 37 points as a rookie to 19 this season.
    Max Bultman, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
  • The superstars’ set list didn’t deviate too far from their previous shows on the trek, but there were some surprises during the encore.
    Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 26 Apr. 2026
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Startlement.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/startlement. Accessed 1 May. 2026.

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