surprise/startle/blow away?

[hhtt21]

The three words "startle", "surprise" and "blow away" seem to me quite similar. Would you please help me distinguish between them? I don't see any difference between them, and I wonder if you see any.

"In 1905, Albert Einstein startled the world's physicists with a theory that disproved much of how classical physics saw light".

Quantum Jump

Quantum Jump was written for individuals trying to make sense of the rapid social and political changes overtaking their lives. Clement explains how our civilization is undergoing a translation similar to the European Renaissance, the development of managed agriculture or the invention of...

books.google.com.tr

NASA scientists 'blown away' by 435,000 MPH Parker Solar Probe's first insights from Sun.

NASA scientists ‘blown away’ by Parker Probe's first insights from Sun

NASA’s Parker Solar Probe has beamed back its first observations from the edge of the Sun’s scorching atmosphere.

www.express.co.uk

"This achievement surprised the researchers themselves – especially since the tasks were even more difficult in reality than just described".

Study shows: Fish can calculate

Cichlids and stingrays can perform simple addition and subtraction in the number range of one to five. This has been shown in a recent study by the University of Bonn, which has now been published in the journal Scientific Reports. It is not known what the animals need their mathematical...

www.eurekalert.org

Thank you.

 

[jutfrank]

They're all quite different. Take one at a time.

Imagine I slowly creep up behind you without you noticing and then suddenly shout something in your ear. How would you react? I've startled you.

Can you think of a similar situation that would cause a similar reaction?

 

[probus]

In addition to the valid points made by @jutfrank I would add that "blown away" is very emphatic, far more so than the others.

 

[hhtt21]

Can you think of a similar situation that would cause a similar reaction?

If I throw you a plastic snake but seems to be horrible and real and if you supposed it was real too, have I startled you or frighten you?

 

[probus]

Either startled or frightened or perhaps both. The reaction may vary from one person to another.

 

[5jj]

If you are startled, you are not necessarily frightened.

 

[jutfrank]

If I throw you a plastic snake but seems to be horrible and real and if you supposed it was real too, have I startled you or frighten you?

Yes, that's a good example.

If you are startled, you are frightened in the sense that you have a fight or flight response. Your body prepares for attack.