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Startle synonyms

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alarm
To give warning to:
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  1. To give warning to:
  2. To equip with or protect by an alarm:
  3. To fill with alarm or anxious concern.
shock
(Archaic) To come together violently; collide
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  1. (Archaic) To come together violently; collide
  2. To subject (an animal or person) to an electric shock.
  3. An instance of the passage of an electric current through the body. The amount of injury caused by electric shock depends on the type and strength of the current, the length of time the current is applied, and the route the current takes once it enters the body.
astonish
To fill with sudden wonder or great surprise; amaze
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  1. To fill with sudden wonder or great surprise; amaze
  2. To fill with sudden wonder or amazement.
disturb
To break up the settled order or orderly working of
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  1. To break up the settled order or orderly working of
  2. To break up the quiet or serenity of; agitate (what is quiet or still)
  3. To intrude on; inconvenience:
agitate
To cause to move with violence or sudden force.
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  1. To cause to move with violence or sudden force.
  2. To arouse interest in (a cause, for example) by use of the written or spoken word; discuss or debate.
  3. To stir up interest and support through speeches and writing so as to produce changes
electrify
To wire or equip (a building, for example) for the use of electric power.
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  1. To wire or equip (a building, for example) for the use of electric power.
  2. To give an electric shock to
  3. To cause electricity to pass through; to affect by electricity; to give an electric shock to.
jolt
To cause to move jerkily:
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  1. To cause to move jerkily:
  2. To move or dislodge with a sudden, hard blow; strike heavily or jarringly:
  3. To shock or surprise
shock
To administer electric current to (a patient) to treat cardiac arrest or life-threatening arrhythmias.
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  1. To administer electric current to (a patient) to treat cardiac arrest or life-threatening arrhythmias.
  2. To subject (an animal or person) to an electric shock.
  3. An instance of the passage of an electric current through the body. The amount of injury caused by electric shock depends on the type and strength of the current, the length of time the current is applied, and the route the current takes once it enters the body.
affright
(Archaic) To frighten; terrify
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  1. (Archaic) To frighten; terrify
  2. To arouse fear in; terrify:
alarm
To give warning to:
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  1. To give warning to:
  2. To equip with or protect by an alarm:
  3. To fill with alarm or anxious concern.
frighten
To force (away, out, or off) or bring (into a specified condition) by making afraid
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  1. To force (away, out, or off) or bring (into a specified condition) by making afraid
  2. To become afraid:
  3. To fill with fear; alarm.
panic
To give way to or show panic
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  1. To give way to or show panic
  2. (Slang) To convulse (a listener, audience, etc.) with laughter, delight, etc.
  3. To affect with panic
scare
To become frightened, esp. suddenly
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  1. To become frightened, esp. suddenly
  2. To fill with fear or terror; esp., to frighten suddenly or startle; terrify
  3. To strike with sudden fear; alarm.
scarify
To frighten
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  1. To frighten
  2. To scare.
  3. To create a design on (the skin) by means of shallow cuts that are sometimes rubbed with a colorant or irritant to enhance the resulting scar tissue.
terrify
To fill with terror; make deeply afraid:
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  1. To fill with terror; make deeply afraid:
  2. To drive or force by arousing fear:
  3. To fill with terror; frighten greatly; alarm
terrorize
To fill or overpower with terror; terrify.
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  1. To fill or overpower with terror; terrify.
  2. To coerce, make submit, etc. by filling with terror, as by the use or threat of violence
  3. To coerce or intimidate by causing fear.
fright
(Archaic) To frighten; terrify
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  1. (Archaic) To frighten; terrify
amaze
(Obs.) To bewilder
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  1. (Obs.) To bewilder
  2. (Obsolete) To bewilder; perplex.
  3. To cause great wonder or astonishment:
astonish
To fill with sudden wonder or great surprise; amaze
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  1. To fill with sudden wonder or great surprise; amaze
  2. To fill with sudden wonder or amazement.
astound
To astonish and bewilder.
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  1. To astonish and bewilder.
  2. To astonish, bewilder or dazzle.
  3. To bewilder with sudden surprise; astonish greatly; amaze
awe
To fill with awe:
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  1. To fill with awe:
  2. To inspire awe in; fill with awe
surprise
To cause (someone) to do or say something unintended or to be in an unintended condition:
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  1. To cause (someone) to do or say something unintended or to be in an unintended condition:
  2. To cause to feel wonder, astonishment, or amazement, as at something unanticipated:
  3. To elicit or detect through surprise:
bolt
A sudden or unexpected event:
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  1. A sudden or unexpected event:
  2. A short, heavy arrow with a thick head, used especially with a crossbow.
  3. A fastener consisting of a threaded pin or rod with a head at one end, designed to be inserted through holes in assembled parts and secured by a mated nut that is tightened by applying torque.
jump
A step or level:
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  1. A step or level:
  2. (Informal) An initial competitive advantage; a head start:
  3. An involuntary nervous movement; a start.
start
A signal to begin, as in a race
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  1. A signal to begin, as in a race
  2. A position of advantage over others, as in a race or an endeavor; a lead:
  3. An instance of beginning a race:
Find another word for startle. In this page you can discover 38 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for startle, like: alarm, shock, astonish, disturb, agitate, frighten, surprise, electrify, jolt, shock and affright.

Sentence Examples

  • "I didn't mean to startle you," he said.

  • Selyn wrenched the door open fast enough to startle Deidre.

  • You'll startle him and then he'll be killed.

  • "I...didn't mean to startle everyone," Edith said.

  • Like Jean Hardouin he got to believe that a great deal of what is called classical literature was compiled by anonymous authors at a much later date, and he used frequently to startle his colleagues, the Gustavian academicians, by his audacious paradoxes.

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Words that mention startle in the Dictionary

Words near startle in the Thesaurus