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
1
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 notesIn plain EnglishSo surprising it catches you off guard.
Common pairings
startling discovery
startling news
startling similarity
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Word forms
- Plural
- startlings
- Comparative
- more startling
- Superlative
- most startling
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The report contained some _____ statistics about the city's crime rate.
Synonyms
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Related words
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.
