STARTLE

v. frighten, surprise, scare, disturb, unsettle, upset, discompose, make (someone) jump, jolt, jar, dismay, perturb, stun, take (someone) aback, shock, astound, astonish, Colloq shake up, give (someone) a turn, US discombobulate He jumped out from behind the door and startled me She was startled when she was told that she had to leave at once.