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hair-raising

/ˈheɪrˌreɪzɪŋ/ · hair-rais·ing
adjective
  1. causing a feeling of fear or excitement The rollercoaster ride was a hair-raising experience that left me breathless.
noun
  1. an experience that causes a feeling of fear or excitement The horror movie was a hair-raising experience that kept me on the edge of my seat.
Did you know? The phrase 'hair-raising experience' was first used in the 17th century to describe a feeling of intense fear or excitement, and has since become a common idiom in English language.
Written by Lexi Wordsworth, Dictionary Editor 0 lookups Added Jul 22, 2026