STARTLING

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does startling mean? 

• STARTLING (adjective)
  The adjective STARTLING has 1 sense:

1. so remarkably different or sudden as to cause momentary shock or alarm

  Familiarity information: STARTLING used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• STARTLING (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

So remarkably different or sudden as to cause momentary shock or alarm

Context example:

startling earthquake shocks

Similar:

surprising (causing surprise or wonder or amazement)

 Context examples 

This was the startling effect of the cessation of motion.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

The details were few and startling.

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

His skin, wherever it was exposed, was burnt by the sun; even his lips were black, and his fair eyes looked quite startling in so dark a face.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Now four men said other and more startling ones.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Eclipses are the strongest aspects the universe sends us, and the news they bring is usually startling, but not always in a bad way.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

If the latter, we must trace—Here we were interrupted in a very startling way.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Many startling successes and a few unavoidable failures were the outcome of this long period of continuous work.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

"Are you the musical girl?" he asked, without any startling "Hey!" as he looked down at her very kindly.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

It was a startling likeness, and necessarily had a startling look.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

It was not a startling find, merely a low-pay placer where long hours of severe toil earned each man between fifteen and twenty dollars a day.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)