1
as in interesting
holding the attention or provoking interest
an arresting film about tribal traditions in Africa
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in commanding
likely to attract attention
at seven feet tall, he's an arresting figure in any crowd
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in seizing
to take or keep under one's control by authority of law
the inept robber was promptly arrested by the off-duty policeman he had tried to hold up
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stopping
to bring (something) to a standstill
cryogenics is based on the idea that extreme cold can almost arrest molecular motion
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in fascinating
to hold the attention of as if by a spell
the sight of the daredevil walking a tightrope between high-rises arrested area pedestrians and motorists alike
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of arresting
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
27 Apr. 2026
The puppeteers, who are often front and center, set the pace for the entire show and create some of the most arresting visual effects, centering their work around the voyages and adventures of two main actors.
—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
11 Feb. 2026
Travis Loller,
Arkansas Online,
20 June 2026
Two years earlier, in 2023, a Senatobia officer was fired for his role in arresting a 10-year-old Black boy who had urinated in a different parking lot.
—
CBS News,
19 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for arresting
Adjective
Perhaps the most arresting piece of paleopathological evidence for our meat dependence comes from Tanzania.
—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
27 Apr. 2026
The puppeteers, who are often front and center, set the pace for the entire show and create some of the most arresting visual effects, centering their work around the voyages and adventures of two main actors.
—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
In 2023, a Senatobia officer was fired for his role in arresting a 10-year-old Black boy who had urinated in a different parking lot.
—
Travis Loller,
Arkansas Online,
20 June 2026
Two years earlier, in 2023, a Senatobia officer was fired for his role in arresting a 10-year-old Black boy who had urinated in a different parking lot.
—
CBS News,
19 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for arresting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arresting
Adjective
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The relaxed fit offers plenty of comfort while the print keeps things visually interesting.
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An interesting analogy can be drawn to humanity’s relationship with animals.
Adjective
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Or perhaps the Black policemen, who often watched the house without their white commanding officer, secretly sympathized with the uprising.
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Moments after the Knicks completed the largest comeback in NBA Finals history in Game 4 — erasing a 29-point deficit to take a commanding 3-1 series lead over the San Antonio Spurs — Stiller burst through the postgame interview room doors like the Kool-Aid Man.
Verb
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Hezbollah and Israel went to war shortly after the outbreak of the wider conflict, with Hezbollah firing rockets and drones at civilian communities in northern Israel and Israel seizing large swaths of southern Lebanon.
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Federal immigration agents were seizing people across the city.
Verb
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And the heat’s not stopping anytime soon.
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Video shows how chase led to deadly crash Instead of stopping, the purple car accelerated and sped through a red light, according to video from Joel’s dashboard camera.
Verb
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Wilentz, author of the 2010 book Dylan in America, wrote Volume 18‘s detailed, often fascinating 125-page liner notes that provides historical context for the expansive eight-CD set.
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Once on the ground visitors can enjoy Greenland’s rugged coastal landscapes, fascinating indigenous Inuit culture, and the opportunity to experience the country at its primordial best.
Adjective
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What Dave Gallagher and the AnimSchool Studios team have achieved is remarkable, creating a visually stunning, emotionally engaging series that has already built a passionate audience through its own merit.
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Mahjong, which is strategic, social and mentally engaging, fits squarely into that category.
Adjective
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Evolutionary cues, emotional encoding and genetics all converge in how partners experience each other’s smell, and a noticeable shift in that experience may be worth paying attention to.
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After 12 weeks, the results suggested that a tiny dose of regular exercise could yield noticeable physical benefits.
Verb
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Police posted video of the raid on social media, showing officers collecting evidence at the scene and apprehending the suspect.
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The Nodaway County Sheriff’s Office, United States Marshals Service and New Mexico State Police assisted in apprehending Jones, Hann said.
Cite this Entry
“Arresting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arresting. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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