gooseflesh
Skin's fear response
Gooseflesh is the temporary roughening of skin when tiny muscles at hair follicles contract, causing small bumps—the same texture as a plucked goose.
Cold, fear, or strong emotion triggers it: The eerie music gave me gooseflesh.
Also called goose bumps, goose pimples, or goose skin.
Surge of intense excitement
- wonderAmazement or curiosity
- amazementOverwhelming surprise and wonder
- astonishmentIntense sudden wonder
- reverenceProfound admiring respect
sublime · breathtaking · spine-tingling · overwhelming · transcendent · moved · stirred · touched
Slight stinging sensation
- shiverInvoluntary trembling sensation
- frissonMomentary shiver of feeling
- thrillSurge of intense excitement
- excitementState of eager enthusiasm
anticipation · electricity · charged · stimulation · sensory · touch · caress · whisper
Involuntary trembling sensation
- chillCold sensation or relaxation
- freezingExtremely cold
- icyFrozen or unfriendly
- frigidExtremely and intensely cold
frosty · wintry · brisk · nippy · goosebumps · pimpling · draft · exposure
Intense anticipatory fear
- terrorExtreme, overwhelming fear
- frightSudden intense fear
- horrorExtreme fear or disgust
- panicUncontrollable sudden fear
alarm · trepidation · apprehension · unease · anxiety · creeps · willies · heebie-jeebies
Involuntary hair-raising reflex
- autonomicSelf-regulating without awareness
- involuntaryNot under conscious control
- fight-or-flightAcute threat reaction
- physiologicalOf body functions
thrill
Surge of intense excitement
- wonderAmazement or curiosity
- amazementOverwhelming surprise and wonder
- astonishmentIntense sudden wonder
reverence · sublime · breathtaking · spine-tingling · overwhelming · transcendent · moved · stirred · touched · rapture
tingle
Slight stinging sensation
- shiverInvoluntary trembling sensation
- frissonMomentary shiver of feeling
- thrillSurge of intense excitement
excitement · anticipation · electricity · charged · stimulation · sensory · touch · caress · whisper · breath
shiver
Involuntary trembling sensation
frigid · frosty · wintry · brisk · nippy · goosebumps · pimpling · draft · exposure · wind chill
dread
Intense anticipatory fear
panic · alarm · trepidation · apprehension · unease · anxiety · creeps · willies · heebie-jeebies · chills
piloerection
Involuntary hair-raising reflex
- autonomicSelf-regulating without awareness
- involuntaryNot under conscious control
- fight-or-flightAcute threat reaction