exhilarating

adjective

ex·​hil·​a·​rat·​ing ig-ˈzi-lə-ˌrā-tiŋ How to pronounce exhilarating (audio)
: causing strong feelings of happy excitement and elation : thrilling
an exhilarating experience
… an exhilarating ride that allows participants to catch an aerial view like they've never seen before.Kathryn M. Roy
… I would like to convey the sense of flight as it was almost at the very beginning of itself, when everything about it was miraculous and dangerous and exhilarating.James Dickey
… an exhilarating career full of deals sealed at three-martini lunches.Andrea Cooper
exhilaratingly adverb
an exhilaratingly funny performance

Examples of exhilarating in a Sentence

no recording can capture the exhilarating feeling of being at a live rock concert
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The Pens seven-game, second-round drama turned out to be an exhilarating Battle of the NHL Stars epic triumph over Washington and Alexander Ovechkin. David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 4 June 2025 In the final episode of Cobra Kai, the Sekai Taikai tournament comes to an exhilarating end when Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) faces off against the intimidating Sensei Wolf (Lewis Tan) and ultimately wins. Christopher Rudolph, People.com, 31 May 2025 For all the excitement the side generated in its exhilarating 4-3 and 3-3 clashes with Inter Milan in the Champions League, a more streetwise Barcelona wouldn’t have let such chaos reign and would have controlled the games better. Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025 Once Upon a Time in Dollywood By Ashley Jordan Berkley: 448 pages, $19 (Aug. 5) Jordan’s debut is an exhilarating climb through Tennessee’s mountains and the depths of passion. Lorraine Berry, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for exhilarating

Word History

First Known Use

1634, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of exhilarating was in 1634

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Cite this Entry

“Exhilarating.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exhilarating. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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