startling

1 of 2

adjective

star·tling ˈstär-tᵊl-iŋ

ˈstärt-liŋ

Synonyms of startling

: causing fright, surprise, or astonishment

a startling discovery

startlingly adverb

startling

2 of 2

present participle of startle entry 1

Examples of startling in a Sentence

Adjective Startling new evidence came to light during the trial. He made a startling discovery. It is a city of startling contrasts.

Recent Examples on the Web

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Adjective

Most notable were the startling bear signs, alerting us to the presence of Asian black bears in the area. — Everett Potter, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 Reports from across the UK show the mischievous character lurking outside windows and startling passersby. — Gina Park, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026 Paranormal Activity understands just how much fun that can be, crafting a story so suspenseful, so surprising and so startling that the audience’s screams become a soundtrack all their own. — Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026 Sixty years in an ever-changing and often volatile market is a startling milestone, one worthy of celebration, especially as Broward’s restaurant scene grows. — Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for startling

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1609, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of startling was in 1609

See more words from the same year

Browse Nearby Words

startler

startling

startlish

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Startling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/startling. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

startling

adjective

star·tling

: causing a sudden fright, surprise, or astonishment

a startling discovery

startlingly

ˈstärt-liŋ-lē,

-ᵊl-iŋ-

adverb

startling

adjective

Synonyms of startling

Examples of startling in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

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