1
as in terrifying
causing fear
hair-raising stories of headless corpses and disembodied screams
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in breathtaking
causing great emotional or mental stimulation
a theme park that is legendary for its lightning-fast roller-coaster and other hair-raising rides
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hair-raising
His own pharmaceutical quest is nothing short of hair-raising.
—
Jerome Groopman, New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2025
Then into motorboats for hair-raising dashes through tortuous canals and across rough water to dams far back in some vast marsh.
—Nash Buckingham, Outdoor Life, 19 June 2025
The term hair-raising takes on new meaning as two performers contort their bodies high above the stage, connected only by their coiffures.
—Karen D'souza, Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2025
Led by vocalist Christina Michelle’s hair-raising screams, Deep Sage mangles everything in its path with thick basslines and switchblade guitars until the floor is bloodied but the air, at long last, is cleansed.
—Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 4 Dec. 2024
Oh, there are plenty of opportunity for that: Feliz says the season only gets more hair-raising from here.
—Lynette Rice, Deadline, 6 Oct. 2024
The reason this seems hair-raising is that most generative AI is devised to wait for the human to initiate a conversation.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 17 Sep. 2024
Among them were experienced mountaineers accustomed to steep terrain where any fall could be fatal, and casual hikers who had never before attempted to climb anything as hair-raising.
—Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 8 Aug. 2024
The players’ recounted exploits are at once hair-raising, nostalgic and moving.
—Drew Goins, Washington Post, 31 July 2024
Jerome Groopman, New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2025
Then into motorboats for hair-raising dashes through tortuous canals and across rough water to dams far back in some vast marsh.
—Nash Buckingham, Outdoor Life, 19 June 2025
The term hair-raising takes on new meaning as two performers contort their bodies high above the stage, connected only by their coiffures.
—Karen D'souza, Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2025
Led by vocalist Christina Michelle’s hair-raising screams, Deep Sage mangles everything in its path with thick basslines and switchblade guitars until the floor is bloodied but the air, at long last, is cleansed.
—Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 4 Dec. 2024
Oh, there are plenty of opportunity for that: Feliz says the season only gets more hair-raising from here.
—Lynette Rice, Deadline, 6 Oct. 2024
The reason this seems hair-raising is that most generative AI is devised to wait for the human to initiate a conversation.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 17 Sep. 2024
Among them were experienced mountaineers accustomed to steep terrain where any fall could be fatal, and casual hikers who had never before attempted to climb anything as hair-raising.
—Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 8 Aug. 2024
The players’ recounted exploits are at once hair-raising, nostalgic and moving.
—Drew Goins, Washington Post, 31 July 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hair-raising
Adjective
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The case is interrupted as Lorraine is heavily pregnant with Judy and is induced into giving birth after a terrifying vision.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
The series centers around a deep-space research vessel crash-lands on Earth, bringing with it mysterious and terrifying life forms, such as the Xenomorph.—
Carson Blackwelder,
PEOPLE,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Imagine pumpkin spice, crisp fresh air, fresh applies and breathtaking fall colors.—
Cathy Kozlowicz,
jsonline.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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Some exchanges were breathtaking — to them, certainly, and to those in the stands who gasped at the power during longer points.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Interestingly, Lorraine has taught Judy to ward off her frightening visions by using a nursery rhyme, effectively teaching her to suppress her dark side.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
That's really frightening because people can be really cruel and that's dangerous.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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After that, the first eight drives of the game all resulted in scores, delivering an exciting start to the season’s first game.—
The Athletic NFL Staff,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2025
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Mirza said the mobile bus has visited in the past, but that the permanent presence of dental care services is an exciting addition to UHI.—
Lauren Costantino,
Miami Herald,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Yes, this Jaguars pass rush is formidable; Josh Hines-Allen is no joke.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Sep. 2025
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With the Chiefs appearing more vulnerable in a season coming off a Super Bowl trouncing, Buffalo—which opens its 2025 campaign Sunday night at home against another formidable foe, the Baltimore Ravens—is poised for a breakthrough.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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How about the first time two boosters landed side by side, punctuating the inaugural launch of SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket with thrilling synchrony?—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
4 Sep. 2025
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Players will visit stunning new locations, solve intricate puzzles, battle dangerous cultists, and encounter an epic new enemy in a classically thrilling Indiana Jones adventure.—
Griff Griffin,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Building a new company is scary and comes with high risks, but these organizations are proving that success is always possible, and age is just a number.—
Claire Dodds,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
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And production budgets are usually modest, making for some scary-good profit margins.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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So, ask yourself, Is my profile accurate, up-to-date, relevant, interesting, impressive, and credible?—
William Arruda,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
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What makes the show interesting, however, isn’t just the chemistry between the trio of anchors, though that is certainly part of the equation.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hair-raising.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hair-raising. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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