startling

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.

A set of before-and-after portraits of patients treated by the American missionary and surgeon Peter Parker are among Lam Qua’s most startling commissions.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 3, 2026

Polling data on how people around the world view America inevitably makes for dry reading, but still exposes startling differences between how Americans see themselves and external perceptions.

From Salon • May 31, 2026

However, she said they had obtained a short coroner's report including an account from Nix from the time, which contained some "startling differences" to the story she now told, which she was unable to explain.

From BBC • May 26, 2026

And, on any given night, he didn’t hesitate to expand an improvisation to startling lengths, finding new ideas well beyond the imaginative limits of most jazz players.

From Los Angeles Times • May 26, 2026

He rests his hand on Helmuth's shoulder, startling him.

From "The Boy Who Dared" by Susan Campbell Bartoletti