startle

“Sudden explosive noise, concussive blasts, and bright flashes have the potential to startle young birds, creating unnecessary risk during a critical period of development.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 24, 2026

They then measured how the mice responded using a modified auditory startle test.

From Science Daily ● May 15, 2026

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

“Excuse me. I didn’t mean to startle you. I was noticing your hair. It has reddish highlights when the sun hits it.”

From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu

I am not sure what startles more—that the feat was achieved at all or that it was Mr. Koolhaas’s firm that pulled it off.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 20, 2026

What probably startles beginning bromeliad growers most, even after providing diligent care, is the inevitable decline of the original or mother plant after it flowers.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 22, 2023

Too many enjoy the heady rush of attention they get from doing or saying something that startles or provokes.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 28, 2022

The sight of them visibly startles people who have not thought about them for years.

From New York Times ● Aug. 16, 2022

Teeth startles and then passes out, emitting his terrible stink.

From "Wayward Creatures" by Dayna Lorentz

"I was startled awake and immediately went to my child's room," he said.

From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026

Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s administration had been startled when Trudeau’s government discreetly asked British intelligence chiefs to start discussing how they might band together if the U.S. left Five Eyes, the U.S.-led intelligence-sharing alliance.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026

A Fresno County sheriff’s deputy is mourning the loss of his K-9 partner who was struck by a car after he ran off when he was startled by a fireworks explosion this weekend.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 6, 2026

Observers were startled that, given the risks, Ali Khamenei was present in the very centre of Tehran on February 28 rather than in hiding elsewhere in the vast country.

From Barron's ● Jul. 1, 2026

Penelope was so startled she forgot to whisper.

From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood

“I watched through all hours of the night and at one point screamed into my phone ‘YOU’VE GOT THIS, JACKIE!’ startling my entire family awake.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026

His words were startling, to say the least, but Schwartz’s description of the president’s true personality was revelatory.

From Salon ● Aug. 7, 2026

When the call ended, the driver said something startling: “Thank you for your success.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

The bat fell onto a table at the Yellow Deli in Vista, startling patrons.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026

But just when I was beginning to feel at ease, the most startling thing happened.

From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall