Exhilarating — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective verb /ig-ˈzi-lə-ˌrā-tiŋ/ ex·hil·a·rat·ing

Meaning & Definition of Exhilarating

Exhilarating (adjective)

  1. causing strong feelings of happy excitement and elation, thrilling

Exhilarating (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. causing great emotional or mental stimulation

    "no recording can capture the exhilarating feeling of being at a live rock concert"

    similar: breathtaking, charged, electric, electrifying, exciting, exhilarative, galvanic, galvanizing, hair-raising, heart-stopping, inspiring, intoxicating, kicky, mind-bending, mind-blowing, mind-boggling, rip-roaring, rousing, stimulating, stirring, thrilling
    related: arresting, interesting, intriguing, provocative, tantalizing, titillating, absorbing, engrossing, gripping, riveting, moving, poignant, touching, enchanting, enthralling, fascinating, spellbinding, dynamic, energetic, high-voltage, kinetic, lively, lusty
    opposite: unexciting
    near: boring, mind-numbing, tedious, tiresome, dreary, dull, humdrum, monotonous, uninteresting

Exhilarating (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to cause a pleasurable stimulation of the feelings

    "the exhilarating feeling of flying that hang gliding offers"

    similar: charging, electrifying, exciting, galvanizing, intoxicating, pumping up, thrilling, titillating, turning on
    related: arousing, inciting, inspiring, provoking, stimulating, bewitching, captivating, charming, delighting, enchanting, enthralling, hypnotizing, mesmerizing, riveting, spellbinding, interesting, intriguing, tantalizing
    near: boring, jading, palling, tiring, wearying, dejecting, demoralizing, discouraging, disheartening, dispiriting

  2. to fill with great joy

    "the climactic moment of commencement ceremonies usually exhilarates graduates and proud parents alike"

    similar: elating, elevating, enrapturing, intoxicating, transporting
    related: commoving, exciting, inspiring, stimulating, uplifting, contenting, delighting, gladdening, gratifying, pleasing, rejoicing, satisfying, warming
    opposite: depressing
    near: demoralizing, discouraging, disheartening, dispiriting, distressing, oppressing, saddening

Related Entry: Exhilarate (verb)

Exhilarate is a different word from Exhilarating. The synonyms below are for exhilarate, not for exhilarating.

  1. to cause a pleasurable stimulation of the feelings

    "the exhilarating feeling of flying that hang gliding offers"

    similar: charge, electrify, excite, galvanize, intoxicate, pump up, thrill, titillate, turn on
    related: arouse, incite, inspire, provoke, stimulate, bewitch, captivate, charm, delight, enchant, enthrall, hypnotize, mesmerize, rivet, spellbind, interest, intrigue, tantalize
    near: bore, jade, pall, tire, weary, deject, demoralize, discourage, dishearten, dispirit

  2. to fill with great joy

    "the climactic moment of commencement ceremonies usually exhilarates graduates and proud parents alike"

    similar: elate, elevate, enrapture, intoxicate, transport
    related: commove, excite, inspire, stimulate, uplift, content, delight, gladden, gratify, please, rejoice, satisfy, warm
    opposite: depress
    near: demoralize, discourage, dishearten, dispirit, distress, oppress, sadden

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Exhilarating

The most common words with a similar meaning to Exhilarating:

breathtaking, charged, electric, electrifying, exciting, exhilarative, galvanic, galvanizing, hair-raising, heart-stopping, inspiring, intoxicating, kicky, mind-bending, mind-blowing, mind-boggling, rip-roaring, rousing, stimulating, stirring, thrilling, charging, pumping up, titillating, turning on, elating, elevating, enrapturing, transporting

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Exhilarating

Words with the opposite meaning of Exhilarating:

unexciting, depressing

Related Words for Exhilarating

arresting, interesting, intriguing, provocative, tantalizing, absorbing, engrossing, gripping, riveting, moving, poignant, touching, enchanting, enthralling, fascinating, spellbinding, dynamic, energetic, high-voltage, kinetic, lively, lusty, arousing, inciting, provoking, bewitching, captivating, charming, delighting, hypnotizing

Near Antonyms of Exhilarating

boring, mind-numbing, tedious, tiresome, dreary, dull, humdrum, monotonous, uninteresting, jading, palling, tiring, wearying, dejecting, demoralizing, discouraging, disheartening, dispiriting, distressing, oppressing, saddening

Word Forms of Exhilarating

Derived words: exhilaratingly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Exhilarating

First known use: 1634

Frequently Asked Questions about Exhilarating

What does "Exhilarating" mean?

"Exhilarating" means causing strong feelings of happy excitement and elation, thrilling. As an an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: causing strong feelings of happy excitement and elation, thrilling. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Exhilarating"?

Other words for "Exhilarating" include breathtaking, charged, electric, electrifying, exciting, exhilarative, galvanic and galvanizing. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Exhilarating" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Exhilarating"?

There are 69 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Exhilarating". Common alternatives include breathtaking, charged, electric, electrifying, exciting, exhilarative, galvanic, galvanizing, hair-raising and heart-stopping.

What is the opposite of "Exhilarating"?

Antonyms of "Exhilarating" include unexciting and depressing. Near antonyms include boring, mind-numbing, tedious and tiresome.

How do you use "Exhilarating" in a sentence?

Examples of "Exhilarating" in a sentence: "no recording can capture the exhilarating feeling of being at a live rock concert"; "the exhilarating feeling of flying that hang gliding offers"; "the climactic moment of commencement ceremonies usually exhilarates graduates and proud parents alike".

Is "Exhilarating" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Exhilarating" can be used as an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Exhilarating"?

"Exhilarating" is pronounced /ig-ˈzi-lə-ˌrā-tiŋ/ and divided into syllables as ex·hil·a·rat·ing.

What is the origin of the word "Exhilarating"?

First known use: 1634.