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exhilarate

verb

ig-ˈzi-lə-ˌrāt How to pronounce exhilarate (audio)
Definition of exhilaratenext
1
as in to thrill
to cause a pleasurable stimulation of the feelings the exhilarating feeling of flying that hang gliding offers

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to excite
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 exhilarate That meant her action sequences, while exhilarating for the actress, were quite minimal. — Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 3 Aug. 2026 The ease of Letty’s romance with Montgomery’s character is positively exhilarating by comparison, and Brown makes the most of the contrast. — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 28 July 2026 Ozzy, who commanded audiences with his unpredictable, exhilarating live performances, was also known for his sharp sense of humor. — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 23 July 2026 For nearly two decades, Justin Bieber has cut a tumultuous, highly scrutinized, and often exhilarating path through pop music and global celebrity. — Dan Adler, Vanity Fair, 19 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for exhilarate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exhilarate
  1. thrill
  2. excite
  3. electrify
  4. delight
  5. elate
  6. intoxicate
Verb
  • For her part, Clare isn’t thrilled when her mother badgers her about bringing her mysterious new boyfriend to dinner to finally meet the family.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 21 Sep. 2026
  • The younger daughter was thrilled to be involved in picking the perfect shade of dusty pink for her bedroom—Benjamin Moore’s Sheraton Beige—and weighing in on the vintage bamboo headboard and reeded Alfred Newall bedside table.
    — Alex Beggs, Architectural Digest, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of thrill
Verb
  • What excites me is the competitive side of it having to make a move, back your decision and keep pushing yourself when the game shifts.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 17 Sep. 2026
  • If Linde's earnings are growing this robustly while revenue barely grew, investors should be excited by the prospect of revenue acceleration over the next few years.
    — Harvey Stober, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of excite
Verb
  • Shipstead’s electrifying novel spans decades and brings the period of early aviation to thrilling life, in the process touching on themes of women’s empowerment and struggle.
    — David Faris, TheWeek, 16 Sep. 2026
  • At the center of it all is an electrifying performance by Robert Pattinson as Hansen, a man who aspires to powerful anchor machismo but is slowly falling apart.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of electrify
Verb
  • The independent company prioritized restoring the hotel, which has a place on the National Register of Historic Places, to its former splendor and updating it to delight modern sensibilities.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026
  • That’s the ugliest story linked to the name of a hangout that has delighted generations since Soyka and business partner Jeffrey Davis conceived of The News Cafe in 1988.
    — Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of delight
Verb
  • There were decisions that would elate or devastate players.
    — Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 24 May 2026
  • This helped convince the administration to shift to their side, elating students, especially Simpson.
    — Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026
Definition of elate
Verb
  • He was charged with four misdemeanor counts of operating while intoxicated, according to Valparaiso police.
    — Todd Feurer, CBS News, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Normandin-Parker was intoxicated and was killed by a driver on the freeway, according to the release.
    — Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of intoxicate

Browse Nearby Words

exhibits
exhilarate
exhilarated
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Cite this Entry

“Exhilarate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exhilarate. Accessed 24 Sep. 2026.

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