arresting

adjective

ar·​rest·​ing ə-ˈre-stiŋ How to pronounce arresting (audio)
Synonyms of arrestingnext
: catching the attention : striking, impressive
an arresting image
arrestingly adverb

Examples of arresting in a Sentence

an arresting film about tribal traditions in Africa at seven feet tall, he's an arresting figure in any crowd
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
For sure, there is something about this swagger that’s coded as masculine, but that doesn’t mean that it must be written by a male novelist (quite the opposite), for among the most arresting voices in American first-person narration—and ones that often wryly subvert—were penned by women. Literary Hub, 4 June 2026 But the most arresting moments on Almost Waking come when Fratti opens her mouth. Jayson Greene, Pitchfork, 2 June 2026 What proved most arresting, however, was not the overt provocation of the work, but its manipulation of duration and attention. Andrew S. Jacobson, Baltimore Sun, 13 May 2026 And in a competitive mass market, bigger often meant publishing more stories which were more arresting, more scandalous, more emotionally loaded. Hank Green, Time, 7 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for arresting

Word History

Etymology

from present participle of arrest entry 1

First Known Use

1792, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of arresting was in 1792

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Arresting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/arresting. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

arresting

adjective
ar·​rest·​ing ə-ˈres-tiŋ How to pronounce arresting (audio)
: catching the attention
an arresting painting

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