1
as in terrifying
causing fear
hair-raising stories of headless corpses and disembodied screams
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in breathtaking
causing great emotional or mental stimulation
a theme park that is legendary for its lightning-fast roller-coaster and other hair-raising rides
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hair-raising
The drive to Flowers Vineyards & Winery along the steep and winding Pacific Coast Highway 1 can be hair-raising.
—
Liz Thach,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
Still that does not mean the exercise won’t be hair-raising for the crew of Artemis II.
—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
29 Jan. 2026
His own pharmaceutical quest is nothing short of hair-raising.
—
Jerome Groopman,
New Yorker,
11 Aug. 2025
Then into motorboats for hair-raising dashes through tortuous canals and across rough water to dams far back in some vast marsh.
—
Nash Buckingham,
Outdoor Life,
19 June 2025
The term hair-raising takes on new meaning as two performers contort their bodies high above the stage, connected only by their coiffures.
—
Karen D'souza,
Mercury News,
15 Apr. 2025
Led by vocalist Christina Michelle’s hair-raising screams, Deep Sage mangles everything in its path with thick basslines and switchblade guitars until the floor is bloodied but the air, at long last, is cleansed.
—
Madison Bloom,
Pitchfork,
4 Dec. 2024
Oh, there are plenty of opportunity for that: Feliz says the season only gets more hair-raising from here.
—
Lynette Rice,
Deadline,
6 Oct. 2024
The drive had been hair-raising (though nothing compared to a later jaunt on Hiva Oa, where Gauguin is buried, during which our guide Heimata played a ukulele while skirting the edge of a cliff and steering with his knee).
—
Peter Heller,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 Jan. 2024
Liz Thach,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
Still that does not mean the exercise won’t be hair-raising for the crew of Artemis II.
—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
29 Jan. 2026
His own pharmaceutical quest is nothing short of hair-raising.
—
Jerome Groopman,
New Yorker,
11 Aug. 2025
Then into motorboats for hair-raising dashes through tortuous canals and across rough water to dams far back in some vast marsh.
—
Nash Buckingham,
Outdoor Life,
19 June 2025
The term hair-raising takes on new meaning as two performers contort their bodies high above the stage, connected only by their coiffures.
—
Karen D'souza,
Mercury News,
15 Apr. 2025
Led by vocalist Christina Michelle’s hair-raising screams, Deep Sage mangles everything in its path with thick basslines and switchblade guitars until the floor is bloodied but the air, at long last, is cleansed.
—
Madison Bloom,
Pitchfork,
4 Dec. 2024
Oh, there are plenty of opportunity for that: Feliz says the season only gets more hair-raising from here.
—
Lynette Rice,
Deadline,
6 Oct. 2024
The drive had been hair-raising (though nothing compared to a later jaunt on Hiva Oa, where Gauguin is buried, during which our guide Heimata played a ukulele while skirting the edge of a cliff and steering with his knee).
—
Peter Heller,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 Jan. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hair-raising
Adjective
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That year, the Potomac River turned violent, as intense, heavy rains pushed the water to a terrifying, near-record flood level of 60,000 cubic feet per second.
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Just like waiting for the release of the bull, the ride vehicle will pause for three seconds before a terrifying 285-foot drop.
Adjective
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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.
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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.
Adjective
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The hypocrisy is stunning, and frightening.
-
Yes, the Scots played poorly, but Brazil’s brilliant roster of attacking talent capitalized on mistakes with frightening efficiency.
Adjective
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Not the most exciting half of soccer considering what else has gone on during the World Cup.
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Johnny is a former professional baseball player, which is exciting for Coop, who comes from a family of ball players.
Adjective
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The Scottish lawyer was one of the smartest, most formidable specialists in the luxury business, with a reputation that carried internationally and a vast roll call of clients.
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With five volumes of his Noise Kandy series, to solo and collaborative albums (KISS THE RING, Kontraband, Trainspotting), the Griselda affiliate has cemented his status as one of today’s most formidable spitters.
Adjective
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And yet fans are still entitled to feel disappointed not to see one of the world’s most thrilling footballers in a game like this.
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Chronicling the early years of the United States' foray into the Space Race, this thrilling story of innovation and the American spirit takes us straight to the stars.
Adjective
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Authorities say the scary situation happened at the end of a ride on May 10.
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As a child life specialist, Hartz’s job is to make the hospital experience less scary.
Adjective
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That could perhaps create more pressure for Burrows to have a strong outing Tuesday, or create an interesting conversation around Arrighetti.
-
Well, its’ interesting because for many years the Republican Party revered Reagan much more than Nixon, partly because Reagan was a successful president and Nixon, of course, ended his presidency in disgrace.
Cite this Entry
“Hair-raising.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hair-raising. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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