exciting 1 of 2

adjective

ik-ˈsī-tiŋ How to pronounce exciting (audio)
Definition of excitingnext
1
as in thrilling
causing great emotional or mental stimulation an exciting, come-from-behind victory for the underdogs in the last game of the World Series

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in provocative
serving or likely to arouse a strong reaction and what exciting news have you for us today?

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

exciting

2 of 2

verb

present participle of excite
1
as in electrifying
to cause a pleasurable stimulation of the feelings for some reason the first snowfall of the season never fails to excite us

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in encouraging
to rouse to strong feeling or action televised pictures of the victims of the famine that would excite any viewer to pity

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 exciting
Adjective
Park made some exciting cameos in friendlies in his homeland South Korea just after signing last summer, and the 19-year-old was occasionally in the first-team squad in his debut year without ever being handed a debut. — Chris Waugh, New York Times, 17 July 2026 Harbaugh’s hiring thrust the Giants into back-to-back exciting prime time spotlights in Weeks 1 and 2 of this NFL season. — Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 17 July 2026
Verb
Major Wilson, 17, has been around horses most of his life and now spends much of his time helping younger riders get ready, showing them how to saddle their horses without exciting them. — Jhair Romero, Houston Chronicle, 26 Feb. 2026 For Harrington and her husband Dante, the thought of triplets was shocking but exciting all the same. — Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for exciting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exciting
  1. breathtaking
  2. provocative
  3. thrilling
  4. encouraging
  5. interesting
  6. electrifying
  7. provoking
  8. intriguing
Adjective
  • The first sequence plays out with breathtaking suspense, the second with wrenching tragedy; the difference is calibrated by the composer Ludwig Göransson, whose score pulses with mournful dissonance and martial fury.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 17 July 2026
  • There was extreme velocity, incredible power and breathtaking speed.
    — Chad Jennings, New York Times, 16 July 2026
Definition of breathtaking
Adjective
  • The songs feature confident lyricism and insights into the star’s personal life, and both arrived alongside provocative music videos that expand Black’s exciting and unique visual world.
    — Jack Irvin, PEOPLE, 20 July 2026
  • The ad’s most provocative image was of American soldiers’ tombs at the Arlington National Cemetery.
    — Harry Booth, Time, 17 July 2026
Definition of provocative
Verb
  • On Sunday, Spain defeated Argentina in extra time to win the 2026 World Cup in thrilling fashion.
    — Dean Jones, New York Times, 20 July 2026
  • Even the bronze medal match, a consolation for the semifinal losers, was thrilling.
    — Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 20 July 2026
Definition of thrilling
Verb
  • The Detroit Health Department is offering free masks to residents and encouraging everyone to stay inside.
    — Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 18 July 2026
  • Progressive Christian leaders are also encouraging congregants to use their faith as the basis for their social justice activism.
    — Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 18 July 2026
Definition of encouraging
Adjective
  • Among the most interesting pendant necklaces of summer 2026, fish stand out.
    — Selene Oliva, Glamour, 18 July 2026
  • But that doesn’t mean your arrangement should be any less interesting or beautiful.
    — Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 18 July 2026
Definition of interesting
Verb
  • The Three Lions held Argentina off the scoresheet for 85 minutes, but Lionel Messi sparked another electrifying come-from-behind win.
    — Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 19 July 2026
  • The 2026 World Cup began with South Korea's electrifying victory over the Czech Republic.
    — Juliana Kim, NPR, 16 July 2026
Definition of electrifying
Verb
  • Chris Young’s Beyond Earth column explores the intersection of space technology and policy, providing thought-provoking commentary on the latest advancements and regulatory developments in the sector.
    — Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 13 July 2026
  • Its New York chapter’s response to the October 7 mass murder and mass rape of Israeli civilians was to blame Israel for provoking the attacks.
    — David Brooks, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026
Definition of provoking
Adjective
  • For a variety of reasons, three intriguing All-Stars — the Colorado Rockies’ Hunter Goodman, Athletics’ Shea Langeliers and Baltimore Orioles switch-hitter Adley Rutschman — are less likely to move.
    — Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 21 July 2026
  • One Expert’s Tips for Fitness Over 40 While trends and the latest gadgets are intriguing, your biggest fitness wins will come from the basics.
    — Jenessa Connor, Health, 20 July 2026
Definition of intriguing

Browse Nearby Words

excites
exciting
exclaim
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Exciting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exciting. Accessed 23 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on exciting

Nglish: Translation of exciting for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of maverick

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 24

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?
See More

Popular

See More

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
thumbnail graphic with text word of the day quiz
Weekly "Word of the Day" Quiz See how well you know each Word of the Day for Ju...
See All