exhilarating

adjective

ex·​hil·​a·​rat·​ing ig-ˈzi-lə-ˌrā-tiŋ 

: causing strong feelings of happy excitement and elation : thrilling

an exhilarating experience

… an exhilarating ride that allows participants to catch an aerial view like they've never seen before.

—Kathryn M. Roy

… I would like to convey the sense of flight as it was almost at the very beginning of itself, when everything about it was miraculous and dangerous and exhilarating.

—James Dickey

… an exhilarating career full of deals sealed at three-martini lunches.

—Andrea Cooper

exhilaratingly

ig-ˈzi-lə-ˌrā-tiŋ-lē 

adverb

an exhilaratingly funny performance

Synonyms

• breathtaking
• charged
• electric
• electrifying
• exciting
• exhilarative
• galvanic
• galvanizing
• hair-raising
• heart-stopping
• inspiring
• intoxicating
• kicky
• mind-bending
• mind-blowing
• mind-boggling
• rip-roaring
• rousing
• stimulating
• stirring
• thrilling

Examples of exhilarating in a Sentence

no recording can capture the exhilarating feeling of being at a live rock concert

Recent Examples on the Web

Another of those homes is a vacation rental in Florida that’s now taking bookings at just over $4,000 a night for stays in a massive residence that includes a laser tag arena, a bowling alley, and a gaming room among its most exhilarating amenities. —Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 11 July 2024

But if Barker is the driving force behind their most exhilarating moments, Hoppus and DeLonge remain the heart and soul of Blink-182. —Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 3 July 2024

Since Udta Punjab, Dosanjh’s popularity has grown in unpredictable and exhilarating ways. —Sucharita Tyagi, Vox, 3 July 2024

From Icon Park on International Drive to Kennedy Space Center on Florida’s Space Coast, here are ideas for exciting indoor activities that can be educational, exhilarating or intriguing for visitors of all ages. —Patrick Connolly, Orlando Sentinel, 3 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1634, in the meaning defined above