What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Staggering vs Startled - What's the difference?

staggering | startled |

As verbs the difference between staggering and startled

is that staggering is while startled is (startle).

As adjectives the difference between staggering and startled

is that staggering is incredible, overwhelming, amazing while startled is frightened.

As a noun staggering

is the motion of one who staggers.

staggering

English

Verb

(head)

    • Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Incredible, overwhelming, amazing.
    • The army suffered a staggering defeat.

    Derived terms

    * staggeringly

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The motion of one who staggers.
  • * 1837 , Memoirs of Mirabeau'' (in ''The Westminster Review , volume 26, page 436)
    • There are to whom the gods, in their bounty, give glory: but far oftener it is given in wrath, as a curse and a poison; disturbing the whole inner health and industry of the man; leading onward through dizzy staggerings and tarantula jiggings
  • That which staggers something or somebody.
  • * (Ebenezer Erskine)
    • But these doubts, and fears, and staggerings , although they may be in the believer, yet they are not in his faith; these things argue the infirmity of his faith, indeed; but under all this, faith is fighting for the victory

    startled

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Frightened.
  • Extremely shocked.

    • Verb

    (head)
  • (startle)