Startling: meaning, example and synonyms

Startlingadj. So unexpected or remarkable as to cause sudden surprise or alarm.

Example

The survey yielded a startling result: in a region long assumed to be thriving, nearly half the wells sampled had run dry within the past decade.

Part of speech: adjective
Synonyms: surprising, astonishing, shocking, unexpected
Antonyms: unremarkable, predictable, expected, ordinary
Memory tip: Startling things make you START (jump) in surprise.

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Check yourself: Startling in context

Pick the word that best completes each text.

Question 1

The census revealed a shift so ______ that local officials at first assumed a clerical error: within a single decade, the village's population had tripled.

Question 2

Visitors found the resemblance between the twin sisters ______, since even their mannerisms and handwriting were nearly identical.

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