adj C1 Advanced Uncommon

startling

STAH-tl-ihng

Startling (adj) means surprising enough to shock or alarm; unexpected and striking. Example: “The report contained some startling statistics about the city's crime rate.”

adj

Surprising enough to shock or alarm; unexpected and striking.

"The report contained some startling statistics about the city's crime rate."

"It was a startling discovery for the research team."

How to use startling

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSo surprising it catches you off guard.

Common pairings

startling discovery startling news startling similarity

Word forms

more startling comparative, startlings plural, most startling superlative

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The report contained some _____ statistics about the city's crime rate.

Frequently asked questions

What does “startling” mean?

The word “startling” means surprising enough to shock or alarm; unexpected and striking. In plain terms, so surprising it catches you off guard.

How do you pronounce “startling”?

“Startling” is pronounced STAH-tl-ihng (/ˈstɑɹ.tl̩.ɪŋ/ in IPA).

How do you use “startling” in a sentence?

Here is “startling” used in a sentence: “The report contained some startling statistics about the city's crime rate.”

What part of speech is “startling”?

“Startling” is an adjective.

Is “startling” a common word?

“Startling” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.