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

Derived Forms

• ˈhair-ˌraiser, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of hair-raising¹

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

So undoubtedly, there will be some isolated hair-raising increases.

From The Daily Beast

In a hair-raising series of events, he was able to get a ticket to the United States and get out of Uganda.

From The Daily Beast

Very little excited Jay, not even his own hair-raising habit of reading while he drove.

From The Daily Beast

The facts in the case are well-known, yet remain hair-raising.

From The Daily Beast

The explosive finale, when demonic fans run amok at a movie premiere, is hair-raising in its viciousness.

From The Daily Beast

The submarine E.14 sailed into harbour after a series of hair-raising adventures in the Sea of Marmora.

From Project Gutenberg

It was a hair-raising problem, too, and called for every ounce of nerve and every particle of skill the boy possessed.

From Project Gutenberg

But Braithwaite has won his spurs now in many a hair-raising crisis, so K. may let his mind rest at ease.

From Project Gutenberg

He related with appropriate force the hair-raising episode of the weird white figure.

From Project Gutenberg

Welcome described another hair-raising turn at another place that allowed him to circle, and came whooping back.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• breathtaking
• chilling
• electrifying
• frightening
• shocking
• suspenseful
• terrifying