1The sudden noise from the back of the room was enough to startle even the most seasoned performers.
2Does the plot twist in the novel startle the reader, or is it predictable from the beginning?
3Her eyes widened as she saw the snake, and she let out a small cry, startled by its sudden movement.
4The news of the company's bankruptcy was enough to startle investors, causing a sharp decline in stock prices.
5There is something about the unexpected juxtaposition of images in surrealist art that can startle the viewer into new perceptions.