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startling

startling

103 5.0
Very surprising in a way that causes sudden shock
  • adjective
  • /ˈstɑrtlɪŋ/
translation icon : sorprendente
  • The sudden loud noise was startling and made everyone jump.
  • a startling conclusion
  • a startling revelation
  • a startling discovery

The bright snow is startling against the deep blue sky.

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Examples

  • Such a conclusion may seem all the more startling considering the conventional wisdom on this issue.

    Academic text (1991)
  • - In another startling announcement from city hall, Mayor Randolph has, effective immediately, lowered the legal drinking age from 21 to 10.

  • The bright snow is startling against the deep blue sky.

  • Yeah, the mayor is completely right, and that is a startling thing to hear.

  • And it is startling how effective that is.

  • And now, ladies and gentlemen... ...I have a startling surprise for the benefit of the hospital.

  • The numbers increased so much it was startling.

  • It was very startling to hear the stories.

  • It was then that I made a startling discovery.

  • The expressions of the horses are startling, showing fear, suffering, and sheer excitement.

    Academic text (1999)

Synonyms

surprising
vsstartling
433 1.8

Causing surprise because it is not expected

is sharper and often produces a quick alarm rather than mild surprise
shocking
vsstartling
278 3.4

Very surprising and upsetting in a way that makes people angry or sad

is briefer, causing a quick alarm rather than lasting disturbance
astounding
vsstartling
92 4.1

So surprising and impressive that you feel amazed

tends to be briefer, giving a quick alarm instead of long awe
stunning
vsstartling
83 4.1

Very surprising and having a strong effect on people

is more about a sudden short alarm than a long powerful effect
mind-blowing
vsstartling
  • Informal
28 5.1

So surprising and impressive that it changes how you feel or think

is limited to a brief alarm or shock rather than transformative effect
staggering
vsstartling
24 5.3

Very large and surprising in a way that shocks you

is smaller in scale, giving a short alarm rather than overwhelming shock
astonishing
vsstartling
5 3.4

Very surprising and making you feel great wonder

is more about brief shock or alarm rather than lasting wonder
stupefying
vsstartling
1 7.7

So surprising and impressive that it leaves people stunned

is more fleeting, causing quick alarm rather than long mental overwhelm

Antonyms

20 3.5

Being ordinary and not interesting

1.2

Likely to happen or be true

How Startling

shocking
278 3.4
alarming
94 3.7
startling
103 5.0
surprising
433 1.8
ordinary
683 1.0

Surface Forms

startling positive

Morphology

startling = startle (transparent) = startle + ing

Formed from the verb 'startle' plus the productive suffix '-ing'; the meaning 'causing surprise' follows directly from the base verb.

Etymology

Startling comes from startle, which is like the simple word start and originally meant 'to jump' or 'move suddenly'. So something startling is very surprising and makes you 'jump' or feel a quick shock.