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.

Fabio Capello, the Juventus manager, was so startled by the 18-year-old that he reportedly tried to sign him.

From BBC • Jun. 7, 2026

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

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

“I was like, you know, startled, and then I realized what it was,” he said, recalling his first experience with the stop-start engine feature that has become the bane of many Americans’ driving existence.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

Ms. Campbell startled, but she quickly regained her composure.

From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas