Synonyms

spine-tingling

British

adjective

causing a sensation of fear or excitement

"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

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.

He said: "It is spine-tingling to know the watch's connection to one of the most famous and tragic events of the 20th Century."

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

That set the tone for a spine-tingling atmosphere, which intensified further as Gareth Bale scored two stunning individual goals to give Wales a 2-1 victory.

From BBC • Nov. 17, 2025

The weigh-in was spine-tingling as the Mancunian stared down Mayweather.

From BBC • Sep. 14, 2025

All credit to Miriam Buether’s incredibly agile scenic design, Jon Clark’s dynamic lighting and, most especially, Paul Arditti’s spine-tingling sound design and DJ Walde’s ethereally commanding music for turning the Marquis into a mind-blowing funhouse.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2025

It was eerie, spine-tingling, unearthly; it lifted the hair on Harry’s scalp and made his heart feel as though it was swelling to twice its normal size.

From "Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets" by J. K. Rowling

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