hair-raising

adjective

ˈher-ˌrā-ziŋ How to pronounce hair-raising (audio)
Definition of hair-raisingnext
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

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 hair-raising 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 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 See All Example Sentences for hair-raising
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hair-raising
  1. terrifying
  2. breathtaking
  3. frightening
  4. exciting
  5. formidable
  6. thrilling
  7. scary
  8. interesting
Adjective
  • Video captured recently in Botswana shows the terrifying moment a tourist boat had to outpace a charging hippo.
    — Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
  • The bandages, cuts and stitches were still fresh from the terrifying attack on Jones Street on Wednesday evening.
    — Tammy Mutasa, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of terrifying
Adjective
  • But if the service wasn't exactly breathtaking, the views from the restaurant were.
    — John Ramos, CBS News, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Chloe Webb’s performance as Nancy Spungen, the junkie girlfriend who Sid probably murdered (the role of Nancy was originally supposed to go to Courtney Love), is breathtaking in the nakedness of its emotion.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of breathtaking
Adjective
  • But the ordeal was frightening and bewildering for Cliffel, who still didn't know what had caused her behavior.
    — Deborah Becker, NPR, 16 Aug. 2026
  • There’s a frightening imbalance in how the mainstream media report on these candidates, which tends to take it pretty easy on the latter.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of frightening
Adjective
  • The Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh will receive a $500,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket, which is an exciting turn of events for both the store and the community.
    — Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 15 Aug. 2026
  • This weekend is filled to the brim with exciting new shows and movies, both from the comfort of your couch and on the big screen.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of exciting
Adjective
  • Miami entered the game riding a seven-match unbeaten streak in league play and leading MLS with 45 goals, but facing a formidable foe in Nashville.
    — Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 16 Aug. 2026
  • This one stars Cox himself as a mysterious and formidable old man in an undertaker’s suit and parson’s hat who wanders into an Arizona border town in 1890 to gather the names of dead Mexican laborers.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of formidable
Adjective
  • Off the slopes, Woolly’s Adventure Summit is a year-round, family-friendly base camp with thrilling activities such as a mountain coaster, zip lining, and tubing.
    — Sharael Kolberg, Travel + Leisure, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The Fifth Element is a stunning combo of thrilling action, thoughtful ideas, madcap performances, and literally awesome set design.
    — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of thrilling
Adjective
  • After the crew leaves the island with the sun god’s cattle, the seas are vicious, scary, and violent.
    — Wisdom Iheanyichukwu, Vanity Fair, 17 Aug. 2026
  • The 13-year-old has his life back after a scary ordeal with epilepsy that seemed to come out of nowhere three years ago.
    — Stephanie Stahl, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of scary
Adjective
  • Elarms-Orr’s interesting usage The Bills are very high on fourth-round rookie Kaleb Elarms-Orr, to the point that the inside linebacker is pushing for a role early in the regular season.
    — Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
  • The origin story of Guy Gardner is actually interesting, despite his questionable barber choices.
    — Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of interesting

Browse Nearby Words

hair-raisers
hair-raising
hairs
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Cite this Entry

“Hair-raising.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hair-raising. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on hair-raising

Nglish: Translation of hair-raising for Spanish Speakers

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