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 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 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
  • Robertson and Sepulveda play two friends who travel to a remote Italian village to settle a family estate, where their trip spirals into a deadly game of deception at the hands of a charming hunter with a terrifying secret (Armitage).
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2026
  • In the last two minutes of the flight, Filgueiras shifted from calmly communicating with air traffic controllers to calling out terrifying updates as the plane plummeted.
    — Josh Funk, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of terrifying
Adjective
  • Turbulence tossed it up and down by 700 feet (200 meters), but the situation quickly escalated as the aircraft fell at breathtaking speed.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Nov. 2026
  • The situation quickly escalated as the aircraft fell at breathtaking speed.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of breathtaking
Adjective
  • The frightening part is that almost anyone can end up on the wrong side of these systems.
    — Edward Longe, Washington Post, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Sussman remembers the 1999 Glastonbury Festival as both frightening and unforgettable.
    — Maribeth Romslo, Rolling Stone, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of frightening
Adjective
  • The exciting duo of quarterback Braden Atkinson and Heisman Trophy hopeful wide receiver Jesse Legree leads the Beavers.
    — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Properties are primarily based in cities, and Mallorca feels like a fresh and exciting new arm to its impressive portfolio, which now spans 46 hotels as well as private residences.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of exciting
Adjective
  • Their pass defense is specifically interesting, allowing over 227 passing yards per game, even while boasting one of the most talented and formidable defensive backfields in the game.
    — Langston Wertz Jr, Charlotte Observer, 8 Nov. 2026
  • The formidable organization of Seminole County Democrats (aka the SemDems) was clearly a factor there.
    — Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of formidable
Adjective
  • What starts as a thrilling hustle exposes just how many guns are hiding inside the homes of their seemingly safe community.
    — Marta Balaga, Variety, 5 Nov. 2026
  • This architectural paradigm, which has directly informed the biennial via its Urban Visions, was initially a thrilling break from corporate postmodernism.
    — Kristian Vistrup Madsen, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of thrilling
Adjective
  • Detroit has a top-10 rushing defense, although that defense will be without middle linebacker Jack Campbell after a scary neck injury last week.
    — David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Thursday’s stock sell-off looked scary — but some Wall Street analysts believe the dramatic decline might be just what the stock market needed after a monthslong run-up sent shares to dizzying heights.
    — Rob Wile, NBC news, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of scary
Adjective
  • Kentucky Most of the attention today will go to Miami-Notre Dame and the Holy War, which makes Kentucky the most interesting spot on the board.
    — OutKick, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2026
  • For fall to winter, the trick is to introduce heavier textures, interesting proportions, and accessories that feel decidedly more 2026 than 2006.
    — Georgia Brown, Glamour, 7 Nov. 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 9 Nov. 2026.

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