Meaning & use
startled
Suddenly surprised or slightly shocked by something unexpected.
See it in a sentence
The startled cat leapt off the counter when the blender switched on.
He gave a startled shout when the door slammed shut behind him.
A note on using this word
Describes a brief, involuntary reaction, typically to a sudden sound or movement, rather than lasting fear.
Words with a similar meaning
surprisedalarmed
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
calmunfazed
Make it your own
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