startles 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of startle
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

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2
as in jumps
to move suddenly and sharply (as in surprise) the cat startled when the door slammed shut with a bang

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3
as in frightens
to strike with fear loud noises always startle her

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

startles

2 of 2

noun

plural of startle
as in shocks

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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
Verb
Missile warning startles Dubai Earlier on Friday, a missile warning in the United Arab Emirates caused by a technical glitch underscored the ongoing tensions in the region, following the attack on the cargo vessel and Israeli strikes in Lebanon over the past few days. — Collin Binkley, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026 The combination of flashing light and movement startles them. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 11 June 2026 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
  1. amazes
  2. jumps
  3. frightens
  4. shocks
  5. stuns
  6. scares
  7. astonishments
  8. surprises
Verb
  • His greatness is never in question, but to have the league at a standstill because of a 41-year-old free agent amazes me.
    — Chris Branch, New York Times, 17 July 2026
  • This technology still amazes me.
    — Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 8 June 2026
Definition of amazes
Verb
  • O'Malley beat Song by decision at UFC 324 in January, which is the wrinkle in any case that jumps him.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • On top of this, season 2 jumps around in time quite a bit, further putting a strain on your ability to follow narrative threads.
    — Andrew Webster, The Verge, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of jumps
Verb
  • Penelope, too, is asked to occupy a landscape that frightens her, not only as a neurodivergent child in a neurotypical culture, but as a child now situated in an adult world.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Aug. 2026
  • And for members who have a long history, who are used to running on that long history, that frightens them.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of frightens
Noun
  • And the who, what and why of the vengeful spirit is the narrative pull of the play — along with the tense anticipation of more revelations, suspicions and shocks.
    — Frank Rizzo, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Under current law, the President has the flexibility to order a limited drawdown, releasing up to 30 million barrels over a 60-day period, to mitigate sudden supply shocks without declaring a full-scale national emergency.
    — Siddharth Misra, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of shocks
Verb
  • Innanen stuns as Paul Baker — full name all the time — a Canadian newcomer to the group who becomes integral to his friends’ emotional processing all while operating as the resident Gen-Z eye candy.
    — CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Princess Kate stuns at Wimbledon 2026, hands out tickets to fansNeed a news break?
    — Sameen Chaudhry, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of stuns
Verb
  • Writer-director Jacob Chase is uniquely qualified to distill what really scares audiences.
    — William Earl, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The exposure obviously scares him, but not enough to stop him from filming his next scene, where he’s been tasked with breaking in newcomer Cami Soul.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of scares
Noun
  • The Oscars, airing March 2 on ABC and streaming live on Hulu, will offer up kudos for some of these astonishments.
    — Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor, 27 Feb. 2025
Definition of astonishments
Verb
  • Vintage Lighting Lighting is another one that surprises people, Gruver says.
    — Rachel Silva, Martha Stewart, 14 Aug. 2026
  • But the 'people's RV maker' often surprises with its annual Caravan Salon slate.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of surprises

Browse Nearby Words

startlements
startles
startling
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Cite this Entry

“Startles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/startles. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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