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
In a world saturated with casual sneakers and impossible-to-walk-in heels, there’s something irresistible and exciting about shoes that prioritize comfort without sacrificing charm. — Alex Sales, Glamour, 24 July 2026 The division is littered with elite fantasy picks, ascending superstars, and exciting breakout candidates worth knowing. — Jonathan Rubin, Charlotte Observer, 24 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
  • Set within the breathtaking Ka`a`awa Valley, the locations of many Hollywood flicks & TV series, and World War II bunkers were filmed at Kualoa Ranch & Private Nature Reserve on the island of Oahu.
    — Noreen Kompanik, Boston Herald, 26 July 2026
  • Drawing me back year after year is the Okefenokee’s breathtaking splendor, magnificent array of plants and animals and its mind-soothing peacefulness and serenity.
    — Charles Seabrook, AJC.com, 25 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
  • Nearly everything Irene does here is monstrous, and yet Corsini never stops encouraging viewers to search for the heartbroken woman suddenly obscured by a wild avatar of self-protection.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 24 July 2026
  • Some parent advocacy groups are encouraging families to ask for one anyway.
    — Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 July 2026
Definition of encouraging
Adjective
  • Anthropic and Amazon are absent from every version, and that pairing is the most interesting thing missing from the list.
    — Sandy Carter, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026
  • Perhaps the Codex Micro’s most interesting feature is a rotary dial that lets the user adjust the agent’s reasoning level depending on the difficulty of the task.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 25 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
  • As a founder of the San Isidro Movement, Otero Alcántara used performance art to challenge the Cuban government, repeatedly provoking authorities through works involving the national flag, public demonstrations and acts of civil disobedience.
    — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 20 July 2026
  • 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
Definition of provoking
Adjective
  • Freshman Cole Leinart, son of 2004 Heisman Trophy winner and USC national champion Matt Leinart, is an intriguing addition.
    — Antonio Morales, New York Times, 27 July 2026
  • The back nine begins with one of Torre's most intriguing risk-reward opportunities at the par-5 11th.
    — Jeff Goudy, Forbes.com, 27 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 30 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 sultry

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

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

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Your vs. You're: How to Use Them Correctly
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
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
chain-question-mark
Missing Link Quiz July 2026 Five seconds to figure out the word that fits bot...
See All