startled

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.

Cenet said he was startled to see that "everyday life continued" on the ship after the captain's announcement.

From Barron's • May 6, 2026

The man "looked as startled as I was" and quickly left.

From BBC • Apr. 20, 2026

I was surprised to see “Lorne” touch on both of these factors, and even more startled to find myself respecting Michaels’ reluctance to apologize for any of his decisions.

From Salon • Apr. 19, 2026

He startled Beijing by taking Tsai’s congratulatory call on his election, making him the first U.S. president-elect to speak directly to a Taiwanese leader since 1979, when Washington severed formal diplomatic ties with the island.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

I inhaled like I’d just been punched in the gut as my heart slammed to a startled stop in my chest.

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin