startle

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Few people who have been on the national stage this long retain an ability to startle.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 24, 2025

But when she sees another dog, everything changes: she snarls, barks loud enough to startle a city block, and lunges with so much force it takes all my strength to hold her back.

From Salon • Aug. 18, 2025

While her decision to stand down as an MSP was obvious and much anticipated, it still has the capacity to startle.

From BBC • Mar. 12, 2025

For these L.A. gigs, she has the Breeders, the great veteran alt-rock band whose 1993 classic “Last Splash” can still startle you with its off-kilter intensity.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 14, 2024

The first reaction is to startle, the second to bolt.

From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams