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

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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
  • In January, just days after the Bears’ magical 2025 dream run ended with a playoff loss, Poles was thrilled when Johnson slammed the back cover on that season and ordered everyone to start working for 2026.
    — Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Angels star Mike Trout, center, and his teammates were thrilled to learn Stan Kroenke, the billionaire Rams’ owner, agreed to buy the baseball team.
    — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of thrill
Verb
  • Lee said during the news conference introducing Luiz that the team’s medium-term projection excited him greatly.
    — Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Ndiaye in particular has excited fans and could be a shrewd addition.
    — Sam Lee, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of excite
Verb
  • Meta worked extensively with Idaho Power to electrify the site, Davis said.
    — Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The Lady Mayor, the third woman to hold the office, enlisted the team at Electrogenic to electrify the 1973 Rolls-Royce Phantom VI.
    — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of electrify
Verb
  • That opening-day land in Disney’s Animal Kingdom delighted families for 28 years, but officially closed in February 2026 to make way for an entirely new Tropical Americas land.
    — Julie Tremaine, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Contrary to its name, this vista is sure to delight the foliage-minded among us.
    — Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 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
  • Congress approved a measure as part of its government funding bill in November 2025, initially giving companies until this November to comply with new restrictions on intoxicating hemp products that had been allowed under the 2018 farm bill.
    — Brandon Gomez, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The Denver Gazette and ProPublica reported that intoxicating hemp has seeped into Colorado’s marijuana market because the state had failed to adopt safety measures.
    — Christopher Osher, ProPublica, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of intoxicate

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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 10 Sep. 2026.

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