Wordnet 3.0
ADJECTIVE (1)
1.
excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement;
- Example: "students startled by the teacher's quiet return"- Example: "the sudden fluttering of the startled pigeons"- Example: "her startled expression"
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Startle \Star"tle\ (st[aum]r"t'l), v. i. [imp. & p. p.
Startled (st[aum]r"t'ld); p. pr. & vb. n. Startling
(st[aum]r"tl[i^]ng).] [Freq. of start.]
To move suddenly, or be excited, on feeling alarm; to start.
[1913 Webster]
Why shrinks the soul
Back on herself, and startles at destruction?
--Addison.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
startled
adj 1: excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick
involuntary movement; "students startled by the teacher's
quiet return"; "the sudden fluttering of the startled
pigeons"; "her startled expression"
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:
20 Moby Thesaurus words for "startled":
affrighted, alarmed, alerted, aroused, bowled down, consternated,
daunted, dismayed, disquieted, electrified, frightened,
in a fright, in a funk, jarred, jolted, shaken, shocked, shook,
staggered, taken aback