startled

[ stahr-tld ]

adjective

1. disturbed or agitated suddenly, as by surprise or alarm:

   Seeing startled herons and egrets flee at the sound of 35 teenagers was a highlight for kids who rarely see birds in their natural habitat.

2. expressing such surprise or alarm:

   A startled cry escaped my throat as I was roughly pulled to my feet by the bodyguard.

verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of startle.

Other Words From

• un·star·tled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of startled¹

startle ( def ) + -ed ²( def )

Example Sentences

A classic example of the amygdala in action is someone's physiological and emotional response to seeing a snake: startled body, racing heart, sweaty palms.

From Science Daily

"The gnome himself was visibly startled," police said, referring to the gnome having its hands covering its mouth.

From BBC

He finds the medication in the cabinet over the sink, but is startled by the sudden appearance of an older, suit-clad man behind him.

From Los Angeles Times

Moments later, the smuggler - a tall figure with bright dyed blonde hair - turned away sharply, like a startled fox, and vanished down a narrow path into the woods.

From BBC

One man startled us by saying he was a Palestinian who lived in Ireland and had once fought with and killed people for the Irish Republican Army but is now devoted to promoting peace.

From Salon

Related Words

• scared
• shocked
• spooked
• stunned
• surprised