startling
adjective
star·tling
ˈstärt-liŋ 
ˈstär-tᵊl-iŋ
: causing momentary fright, surprise, or astonishment
a startling discovery
startlingly
adverb
Synonyms
Examples of startling in a Sentence
Startling new evidence came to light during the trial.
He made a startling discovery.
It is a city of startling contrasts.
Recent Examples on the Web
The eerily perfect replacement of our sun’s disk by an equal-size black orb, followed by the startling appearance of previously invisible and dramatic regions of illumination surrounding it—that kind of eclipse demands very particular conditions.
—
Adam Frank, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2024
With so much positivity, the disconnect with major brands is startling.
—Isaac Mizrahi, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
More sensitive cooperation could make for more startling military breakthroughs.
—Hal Brands, Foreign Affairs, 29 Mar. 2024
Even for former MVPs like Freeman and Betts, the scene was startling.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2024
What is particularly startling, however, is the apparent complete lack of morality in such hackers.
—Chris Wheatley, Longreads, 12 Mar. 2024
The hiccup was startling to investors, considering the sums the company was spending on content, and the stock tumbled.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 7 Mar. 2024
Through the eyes of Godfrey (Riley Keough) and a local police officer (Lily Gladstone), the series takes us into the hidden world of the young girls accused of the murder — revealing startling truths about the unlikely killer.
—Stephanie Wenger, Peoplemag, 25 Mar. 2024
Instead, a vast shopping centre was prey to the same terrors of 2002, the same startling security failure in the capital.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, 23 Mar. 2024
Adam Frank, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2024
With so much positivity, the disconnect with major brands is startling.
—Isaac Mizrahi, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
More sensitive cooperation could make for more startling military breakthroughs.
—Hal Brands, Foreign Affairs, 29 Mar. 2024
Even for former MVPs like Freeman and Betts, the scene was startling.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2024
What is particularly startling, however, is the apparent complete lack of morality in such hackers.
—Chris Wheatley, Longreads, 12 Mar. 2024
The hiccup was startling to investors, considering the sums the company was spending on content, and the stock tumbled.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 7 Mar. 2024
Through the eyes of Godfrey (Riley Keough) and a local police officer (Lily Gladstone), the series takes us into the hidden world of the young girls accused of the murder — revealing startling truths about the unlikely killer.
—Stephanie Wenger, Peoplemag, 25 Mar. 2024
Instead, a vast shopping centre was prey to the same terrors of 2002, the same startling security failure in the capital.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, 23 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'startling.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near startling
Cite this Entry
“Startling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/startling. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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