hair-raising
[hair-rey-zing]
adjective
terrifying or horrifying: We had a hair-raising brush with death.
Origin of hair-raising
First recorded in 1895–1900
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Related Words for hair-raising
breathtaking, terrifying, shocking, frightening, chilling, suspenseful, electrifying, exciting, spine-tingling, bloodcurdling, cliff-hanging, spine-chillingExamples from the Web for hair-raising
Contemporary Examples of hair-raising
In a hair-raising series of events, he was able to get a ticket to the United States and get out of Uganda.
Very little excited Jay, not even his own hair-raising habit of reading while he drove.
The explosive finale, when demonic fans run amok at a movie premiere, is hair-raising in its viciousness.
Historical Examples of hair-raising
The way that Spot walked into those dogs and gave them what-for was hair-raising.
Lost FaceJack London
No one knew where he could have possibly heard the hair-raising phrase.
In the Mist of the MountainsEthel Turner
Piercing, hair-raising, unnatural as they were, Mr. Budlong recognized them.
The Dude WranglerCaroline Lockhart
It was a hair-raising coast, but we made the brink without a spill.
Down the YellowstoneLewis R. Freeman
One fellow, I forget his name, has a most hair-raising theory.
The Tower of OblivionOliver Onions
hair-raising
adjective
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
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper