spine-tingling
Causing excited shivers
Spine-tingling describes something that causes a shiver of excitement, fear, or intense emotion—the sensation of chills running down your back.
The term applies to thrilling experiences: a spine-tingling horror film, a spine-tingling musical performance, a spine-tingling finish to the game.
The feeling can be pleasurable or frightening, but always visceral.
Causing fear or cold
- creepyDisturbingly strange
- terrifyingEvoking extreme fear
- hauntingDisturbingly unforgettable
- macabreDisturbing, death-obsessed
ghostly · supernatural · eerie · uncanny · spectral · phantasmal · otherworldly · sinister
Intensely invigorating or exciting
- electrifyingIntensely thrilling or stimulating
- excitingArousing eager interest
- breathtakingAstonishingly beautiful or exciting
- heart-stoppingExtremely shocking or thrilling
adrenaline · rush · roller-coaster · sensational · spectacular · stirring · rousing · invigorating
Awe-inspiring greatness
- transcendentExceeding usual boundaries
- overwhelmingIntensely excessive in force
- profoundIntensely meaningful or insightful
- magnificentExceptionally beautiful or impressive
majestic · wondrous · moving · emotional · inspiring · goosebumps · shivers · breathtaking
Holding attention completely
- rivetingCompletely holding one's attention
- tenseStrained or nervous
- nail-bitingExtremely tense or anxious
- edge-of-seatIntensely suspenseful experience
cliffhanger · anticipation · apprehension · breathless · heart-pounding · nerve-wracking · anxiety · white-knuckle
chilling
Causing fear or cold
- creepyDisturbingly strange
- terrifyingEvoking extreme fear
- hauntingDisturbingly unforgettable
macabre · ghostly · supernatural · eerie · uncanny · spectral · phantasmal · otherworldly · sinister · spooky
exhilarating
Intensely invigorating or exciting
- electrifyingIntensely thrilling or stimulating
- excitingArousing eager interest
- breathtakingAstonishingly beautiful or exciting
heart-stopping · adrenaline · rush · roller-coaster · sensational · spectacular · stirring · rousing · invigorating · jaw-dropping
sublime
Awe-inspiring greatness
- transcendentExceeding usual boundaries
- overwhelmingIntensely excessive in force
- profoundIntensely meaningful or insightful
magnificent · majestic · wondrous · moving · emotional · inspiring · goosebumps · shivers · breathtaking · epic
gripping
Holding attention completely
- rivetingCompletely holding one's attention
- tenseStrained or nervous
- nail-bitingExtremely tense or anxious
edge-of-seat · cliffhanger · anticipation · apprehension · breathless · heart-pounding · nerve-wracking · anxiety · white-knuckle · dramatic
- creepy feelingseeriness, spookiness, creepiness, dread, foreboding
- fear reactionsscream, scared, gasp, terrified, flinch
- Hyperbolea zillion, bazillion, gazillion, bajillion, zillion
- hyphenated wordsup-to-date, pitch-black, jaw-dropping, round-the-clock, air-conditioned
- mysteriousmysterious, cryptic, enigmatic, arcane, obscure
- suspensesuspense, suspenseful, tension, nail-biter, nail-biting