startling
adjective
star·tling
ˈstär-tᵊl-iŋ 
ˈstärt-liŋ
: causing momentary fright, surprise, or astonishment
a startling discovery
startlingly
adverb
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
Part of the reason lies in the startling success of Andy Muschietti’s film version of my novel, It.
—
Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025
Netflix's startling new true crime documentary delves into the tragic 2023 murder of Ajike Owens, a Black Florida woman, by Lorincz, her white neighbor.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Oct. 2025
All these excellent, exacting details coexist well with each other to produce one of Lanthimos’s best films yet, a movie of startling ingenuity that also doubles as a humorous but pointed warning to us all.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 22 Oct. 2025
That’s the startling revelation of Jenny Beavan, the Oscar-winning British costume designer, who has worked with some of the biggest names in the business.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for startling
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Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025
Netflix's startling new true crime documentary delves into the tragic 2023 murder of Ajike Owens, a Black Florida woman, by Lorincz, her white neighbor.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Oct. 2025
All these excellent, exacting details coexist well with each other to produce one of Lanthimos’s best films yet, a movie of startling ingenuity that also doubles as a humorous but pointed warning to us all.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 22 Oct. 2025
That’s the startling revelation of Jenny Beavan, the Oscar-winning British costume designer, who has worked with some of the biggest names in the business.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for startling
Cite this Entry
“Startling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/startling. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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