startled
adj. B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈstɑɹtəɫd// UK //stˈɑːtəld// star·tled
adj. feeling a sudden shock or surprise because of something unexpected. You might feel this way if a loud noise happens suddenly.
adj. feeling sudden alarm or surprise, typically as a reaction to an unexpected stimulus. Often used predicatively after linking verbs like 'look', 'seem', or 'appear'.
The loud bang left her feeling startled.
A startled deer jumped across the road when it heard the car approaching the forest edge.
The witness gave a startled gasp as the prosecutor revealed the hidden evidence, momentarily losing the composure she had maintained throughout the trial.
Usage
Often follows a linking verb or appears before a noun to describe a sudden state of shock.