startlingly
gb/stˈɑɹtəlɪŋli/ us/stˈɑɹtəlɪŋli/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
adverb
C1
property
1
in a shocking or surprising way
In a way that makes people feel very surprised or shocked.
Usage pattern:
Startlingly, [clause]. / [something] happened startlingly.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use the adjective "startling" instead of the adverb (e.g., "startling loud" instead of "startlingly loud").
Synonyms
surprisingly (More neutral and less intense.)
|
shockingly (Often suggests negative judgment or outrage.)
|
strikingly (Emphasizes how noticeable something is.)
Antonyms
unsurprisingly (Indicates something is expected, not surprising.)
|
predictably (Suggests the result follows an expected pattern.)
Collocations
startlingly,
|startlingly quiet
|startlingly loud
|startlingly sudden
|startlingly unexpected
|startlingly calm
|startlingly late
|startlingly early
|startlingly fast
|startlingly slow
Themes
emotions
|evaluation
|description
Examples
- Startlingly, the company admitted the mistake in public.
- The power cut out startlingly, right in the middle of the concert.
- A voice called her name startlingly from behind the door.
Learner examples
- Startlingly, no one knew the answer.
- The news came startlingly suddenly.
adverb
C1
quantity
2
to an unexpectedly great degree
Very; more than you would expect.
Usage pattern:
startlingly + [adjective/adverb]
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse it where "very" is enough; it usually implies surprise compared with expectations.
Synonyms
remarkably (Strong but often less emotional than "startlingly".)
|
unexpectedly (Focuses on lack of expectation rather than impact.)
|
notably (More formal and less intense.)
Antonyms
moderately (Indicates a limited or not extreme degree.)
|
unremarkably (Indicates nothing stands out.)
Collocations
startlingly similar
|startlingly different
|startlingly clear
|startlingly obvious
|startlingly accurate
|startlingly honest
|startlingly high
|startlingly low
|startlingly good
|startlingly bad
Themes
evaluation
|description
Examples
- The two photos are startlingly similar.
- Her explanation was startlingly clear.
- Prices were startlingly high for a small town.
Learner examples
- The rooms are startlingly clean.
- His story is startlingly close to the truth.
Grammar
Dictionary form
startlingly
IPA
GB/stˈɑɹtəlɪŋli/
US/stˈɑɹtəlɪŋli/
Syllables & stress
start - lingly (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (start)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: startlingly
- Plural: startlinglies
Expressions
startlingly enough
1/stˈɑɹtəlɪŋli ɪnˈʌf/
fixed phrase
used to introduce a surprise
Used to say something is surprising.
Examples
- Startlingly enough, the cheapest option turned out to be the best.
- Startlingly enough, he agreed without arguing.
- Startlingly enough, the data supported their original idea.