See startle in Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus II
verb
To cause to experience a sudden momentary shock:
electrify, jolt, shock1. See excite, surpriseTo fill with fear:
affright, alarm, frighten, panic, scare, scarify2, terrify, terrorize. (Archaic) fright. Idioms: make one's blood run cold, make one's hair stand on end, scare silly (or stiff), scare the daylights out of. See fearTo impress strongly by what is unexpected or unusual:
amaze, astonish, astound, awe, surprise. Idioms: catch (or take) unawares, take aback. See surprise
noun
A sudden and involuntary movement:
bolt, jump, start. See move
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