1
as in amazes
to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected
the lightning startled the children and sent them scurrying for cover
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
3
as in frightens
to strike with fear
loud noises always startle her
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of startles
James L. Edwards Iii, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2026
The project, which Steinberger has rebranded multiple times—evolving from Clawdbot to Moltbot and finally to OpenClaw—largely owing to politics—has expanded at a pace that startles even seasoned AI experts.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 19 Feb. 2026
As the dolphin gets closer to the glass, the Chihuahua lets out a bark that startles the dolphin, who then starts mimicking the dog's mouth movements in a sort of chasing game across species.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Aug. 2025
That aural reminder punctuates my days now, and frequently startles me.
—Rob Mank, Christian Science Monitor, 2 Apr. 2025
Verb
If hypotheticals about what could have been are a good dream for New York Knicks fans, then Mikal Bridges is the alarm clock that startles them awake.
—James L. Edwards Iii, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2026
The project, which Steinberger has rebranded multiple times—evolving from Clawdbot to Moltbot and finally to OpenClaw—largely owing to politics—has expanded at a pace that startles even seasoned AI experts.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 19 Feb. 2026
As the dolphin gets closer to the glass, the Chihuahua lets out a bark that startles the dolphin, who then starts mimicking the dog's mouth movements in a sort of chasing game across species.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Aug. 2025
That aural reminder punctuates my days now, and frequently startles me.
—Rob Mank, Christian Science Monitor, 2 Apr. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for startles
Verb
-
The second thing that strikes me more and actually amazes me is the fact that this is a story, a trope, that is repeated in most of the presentation of Agnes Pockels.—
Mariel Carr,
Scientific American,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Eva’s romance with her husband, Franklin Plaskett, delights and amazes her.—
Adelle Waldman,
The Atlantic,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The main reason this position group jumps up so much is Georgia transfer Dominick Kelly, who provides key depth.—
Cameron Teague Robinson,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
As a viewer, your mind instantly jumps back to the pre-Jackson 5 brothers practicing in their living room in Gary, Indiana, in the 1960s.—
Keith Murphy,
VIBE.com,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The piercing sunlight frightens her.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Like the 1987 Kurt Vonnegut novel from which the restaurant took its name, Bluebeard encourages guests to drop their guard, surround themselves with other people and try something that frightens them a little.—
USA TODAY NETWORK,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The worry looming over the economy Earlier this month, Dimon had also warned in his shareholder letter that the war in Iran risks oil and commodity price shocks that could keep inflation sticky and push interest rates higher than the market now expects.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The move comes amid regional fallout in the Gulf amid the Iran war, which has triggered one of the worst oil shocks in history.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Frankie Grande stuns in a velvet and diamond-studded emsemble for the premiere of Broadway's Titanique on April 12.—
Katie Hill,
PEOPLE,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Trump's attack stuns the world.—
Kim Hjelmgaard,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The lobby is where the elderly owner scares children with tales of a witch who once haunted these grounds.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
30 Apr. 2026
-
And quite frankly, that scares me.—
Madeline Mitchell,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Shrivers’ lasting influence still surprises their children.—
Liz McNeil,
PEOPLE,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Nothing surprises you at Forest, but the Pereira situation feels relatively settled at present.—
David Ornstein,
New York Times,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Frankly, the thought of being beaten by the subscribers terrifies me.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Aubry Bracco is the kind of player who terrifies a certain (male) demographic of Survivor alumni.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Startles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/startles. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
