Exhilarant

/ɪɡˈzɪlərənt/ adjective

Definition

Something that makes you feel very cheerful, excited, or happy; causing exhilaration.

Etymology

From Latin exhilarare (ex-, 'out' + hilaris, 'cheerful'), from Latin hilaris meaning 'cheerful, merry.' The word literally means 'to make cheerful.'

Kelly Says

The Latin root 'hilaris' is the same root that gave us 'hilarious'—but 'exhilarant' is the much rarer, more formal cousin that means 'producing exhilaration' rather than 'funny.'

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