as in exciting
causing great emotional or mental stimulation
no recording can capture the exhilarating feeling of being at a live rock concert
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in thrilling
to cause a pleasurable stimulation of the feelings
the exhilarating feeling of flying that hang gliding offers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in intoxicating
to fill with great joy
the climactic moment of commencement ceremonies usually exhilarates graduates and proud parents alike
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of exhilarating
Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2026
Then there's the exhilarating story of Rehana Shaikh.
—Neha Bhatt, NPR, 13 June 2026
Kansas City Star, 16 Mar. 2026
The pure potential of nuclear technology was exhilarating to contemplate in the abstract, but the ideas of science fiction are not always so smoothly integrated into the messy reality of the real world.
—Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for exhilarating
Adjective
The electricity being generated from Madison Square Garden to my TV during Game 4 was exhilarating!
—Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2026
Then there's the exhilarating story of Rehana Shaikh.
—Neha Bhatt, NPR, 13 June 2026
Verb
Because true as that was technically, that distinction was more fundamental than incidental in a league so defined by that very line — especially considering their once-exhilarating offense had turned stale over much of the season.
—Kansas City Star, 16 Mar. 2026
The pure potential of nuclear technology was exhilarating to contemplate in the abstract, but the ideas of science fiction are not always so smoothly integrated into the messy reality of the real world.
—Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for exhilarating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exhilarating
Adjective
-
Not the most exciting half of soccer considering what else has gone on during the World Cup.—
Monica Alba,
NBC news,
24 June 2026
-
Johnny is a former professional baseball player, which is exciting for Coop, who comes from a family of ball players.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
23 June 2026
Verb
-
But the Knicks came all the way back, finally winning it on OG’s thrilling putback, ending the greatest comeback the NBA Finals had ever seen.—
Mike Lupica,
New York Daily News,
20 June 2026
-
The match, despite the torrential rain, was thrilling and ranks alongside 2022 as the greatest of World Cup finals.—
Will Jeanes,
New York Times,
20 June 2026
Verb
-
The fantasy is intoxicating, but don’t solely focus on the potential.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
16 June 2026
-
Subtle key changes shift throughout and the song’s bridge is an intoxicating balance of burst and contraction.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
12 June 2026
Adjective
-
Alberto Carvalho, who has been under FBI investigation for four months, resigned Sunday night as leader of the nation’s second-largest school system, bringing a breathtaking end to one of the district’s most consequential and high-profile tenures.—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
22 June 2026
-
In his 18½ years at the Fed, Greenspan presided over a breathtaking surge in stock prices and a 10-year economic boom that began in March 1991.—
Paul Wiseman,
Chicago Tribune,
22 June 2026
Verb
-
The evening culminates with the electrifying Concerto for Hammond Organ by Brian Raphael Nabors, who takes the stage as soloist in this work that's a thrilling fusion of gospel, jazz and symphonic sound.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
-
Her own story of abuse becomes a central character in a protest drama that unfurls into electrifying song-and-dance numbers and movement choreography.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
15 June 2026
Adjective
-
The relaxed fit offers plenty of comfort while the print keeps things visually interesting.—
Mia McManus,
PEOPLE,
22 June 2026
-
An interesting analogy can be drawn to humanity’s relationship with animals.—
Rob Toews,
Forbes.com,
22 June 2026
Adjective
-
The compensation model is intriguing because major media companies are taking a two-track approach to AI, filing copyright infringement suits in some cases and striking content licensing deals with AI firms in others.—
Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
23 June 2026
-
His legacy in Philadelphia remains strong, making a potential All-Star return intriguing for fans.—
Peter Chawaga,
Forbes.com,
22 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Exhilarating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exhilarating. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
