startle

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of STARTLE

to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected <the lightning startled the children and sent them scurrying for cover>

Synonyms amaze, astonish, astound, bowl over, dumbfound (also dumfound), flabbergast, floor, rock, shock, startle, stun, stupefy, thunderstrike

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

Synonyms bolt, jump, startle

Related Words jerk, jolt, twitch; blench, cringe, flinch, quail, recoil, shrink, spook, squinch, wince; bound, leap, spring; react, respond

to strike with fear <loud noises always startle her>

Synonyms affright, alarm (also alarum), fright, horrify, panic, scare, scarify, shock, spook, startle, terrify, terrorize

Related Words appall (also appal), bowl over, dismay, floor, jolt, shake, shake up; amaze, astound, awe; chill, daunt, demoralize, dispirit, emasculate, psych (out), undo, unman, unnerve, unstring; discomfort, discompose, disconcert, disquiet, distract, distress, disturb, perturb, unsettle, upset, worry

Near Antonyms assure, cheer, comfort, console, solace, soothe; embolden, encourage, hearten, inspire, steel

Antonyms reassure

What made you want to look up startle? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Put-downs with flair

How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.

Test your vocab with our fun, fast game

Ailurophobia, and 9 other unusual fears