startle has definitions from the fields of biology,medicine
 
"startling" is probably misspelled. Trying startle instead Definition of startle
1
[ verb ] to stimulate to action

Synonyms

galvanise galvanize

Examples

"..startled him awake" "galvanized into action"

Used in print

(Louis Zara, Dark Rider....)

startled him awake .

(Frieda Arkin, "The Light of the Sea," in The...)

She looked at the girl speculatively from eyes which had paled with the years ; from the early evening lights of them which had first startled Izaak to look at her in an uncousinly way , they had faded to a near absence of color which had , possibly from her constant looking_at the water , something of the light of the sea in them .

(Hampton Stone, The Man Who Looked Death...)

Maybe one could be startled into forgetfulness .

2
[ verb ] move or jump suddenly, as if in surprise or alarm

Synonyms

start jump

Examples

"She startled when I walked into the room"

Related terms

move shy boggle rear_back

3
[ noun ] (biology,medicine) a sudden involuntary movement

Synonyms

start jump

Examples

: "he awoke with a start"

*