startle

Meaning

Verb

1. (intransitive) To move suddenly, or be excited, on feeling alarm; to start.
2. (transitive) To excite by sudden alarm, surprise, or apprehension; to frighten suddenly and not seriously; to alarm; to surprise.
3. (obsolete, transitive) To deter; to cause to deviate.

Noun

A sudden motion or shock caused by an unexpected alarm, surprise, or apprehension of danger.

Synonyms

frighten

surprise

alarm

shock

⚡

start

scare

😨

astonish

jump

stun

intimidate

astound

terrify

appal

dumbfound

galvanize

galvanise

catch unawares

upset

stagger

puzzle

jolt

jerk

amaze

dismay

affright

cow

🐮

disconcert

distress

petrify

shy

stupefy

take aback

terrorize

wince

fear

😨

startled

horrify

shocked

chill

be afraid

shudder

daunt

spook

electrify

quiver

bemuse

give a start

fright

recoil

attack

👊

Translations

erschrecken

sobresaltar

surprendre

effrayer

sursauter

spaventare

asustar

😨

bestificar

ontstellen

aufschrecken

ontzetten

⚡

trasalire

atordoar

desconcertar

überraschen

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈstɑːt(ə)l/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: startlen

Inherited from Old English: steartlian

Cognate with Old Norse: stirtla

Cognate with Icelandic: stirtla

Cognate with Middle English: stertil

In summary

From Middle English startlen, stertlen, stertyllen (“to rush, stumble along”), from Old English steartlian (“to kick with the foot, struggle, stumble”), equivalent to start + -le. Cognate with Old Norse stirtla (“to hobble, stagger”), Icelandic stirtla (“to straighten up, erect”). Compare also Middle English stertil (“hasty”). More at start.