Synonyms

exhilarate

American

[ig-zil-uh-reyt] / ɪgˈzɪl əˌreɪt /

verb (used with object)

exhilarated, exhilarating

to enliven; invigorate; stimulate.

The cold weather exhilarated the walkers.

Synonyms:

elate, inspirit, animate

Antonyms:

depress
to make cheerful or merry.

Synonyms:

gladden, cheer

Antonyms:

depress

exhilarate British

/ ɪɡˈzɪləˌreɪt /

verb

(tr) to make lively and cheerful; gladden; elate

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

exhilaratingly adverb
exhilaration noun
exhilarative adjective
exhilarator noun
unexhilarated adjective
unexhilarating adjective

Etymology

Origin of exhilarate

First recorded in 1530–40; from Latin exhilarātus, past participle of exhilarāre “to gladden,” equivalent to ex- “from, out of, beyond” + hilarāre “to cheer” ( hilarity ); ex- ¹, -ate ¹

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The last act of possibly the most exhilarating night in the history of the national team fell to McLean.

From BBC

Early-era Cole was one of the most exhilarating technicians on the planet.

From BBC

Draper lost an exhilarating 26-shot rally, was broken back when serving for the match and won one less point than Djokovic - but still came out on top.

From BBC

"When we refloat an animal, we're assessing it in the water for the first time. Seeing it swim off strongly is exhilarating - it means it has a good chance."

From BBC

How they could keep playing relentlessly and clinically; rugby from another dimension, creative, clinical and utterly exhilarating.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023