hair-raising

[hair-rey-zing]

adjective

1. terrifying or horrifying.

   We had a hair-raising brush with death.

hair-raising

adjective

1. inspiring horror; terrifying

   a hair-raising drop of 600 feet

Other Word Forms

• hair-raiser noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of hair-raising¹

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

At the opposite end of the spectrum that runs from cozy to hair-raising were two immersive fiction features about military disasters that hit devastatingly.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

As for the children being proof of the value of Penelope’s education...well, the Incorrigibles’ best behavior was very good indeed, but their less-than-best could be positively hair-raising.

Read more on Literature

Followers saw their idols tuck into delicacies such as foot-long fries, chat with locals and sample some of the hair-raising rides.

Read more on BBC

“Over the course of marrying and building a life and the hair-raising things we went through, Vinnie and I essentially endured a kind of war together,” says Palmer.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

While thousands packed the stands at Blundell Park, others watched the hair-raising action unfold from the comfort of their living rooms.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• breathtaking 
• chilling 
• electrifying www.thesaurus.com
• frightening www.thesaurus.com
• shocking 
• suspenseful www.thesaurus.com
• terrifying