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.

He described one instance when he was startled by the scorer walking with his group and his vision suddenly went blurry.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

"The fracture caused a very loud snapping noise that actually startled me. I thought at first the machine had broken, but soon realized that the noise came from the stretching fluid."

From Science Daily • Mar. 30, 2026

US President Donald Trump on Thursday startled Japan's prime minister by mentioning the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, a seemingly light-hearted remark sure to elicit unease in a country now a firm US ally.

From Barron's • Mar. 19, 2026

Yvonne Ford, 59, from Barnsley, died four months after she was scratched by a stray dog she startled under her sun lounger on a beach during a holiday in Morocco last February.

From BBC • Mar. 4, 2026

She sprinkled a few drops of oil on the braid-hands and they startled awake, stretching and cracking their knuckles.

From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton