arresting

adjective

ar·​rest·​ing ə-ˈre-stiŋ How to pronounce arresting (audio)
Synonyms of arrestingnext
: catching the attention : striking, impressive
an arresting image
arrestingly adverb

Examples of arresting in a Sentence

an arresting film about tribal traditions in Africa at seven feet tall, he's an arresting figure in any crowd
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
What proved most arresting, however, was not the overt provocation of the work, but its manipulation of duration and attention. Andrew S. Jacobson, Baltimore Sun, 13 May 2026 And in a competitive mass market, bigger often meant publishing more stories which were more arresting, more scandalous, more emotionally loaded. Hank Green, Time, 7 May 2026 Perhaps the most arresting piece of paleopathological evidence for our meat dependence comes from Tanzania. Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2026 The most arresting aspect of her art is the live show - with Cherie performing barefoot behind a translucent screen for her 40-minute set. Piet Levy, jsonline.com, 26 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for arresting

Word History

Etymology

from present participle of arrest entry 1

First Known Use

1792, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of arresting was in 1792

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Arresting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/arresting. Accessed 20 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

arresting

adjective
ar·​rest·​ing ə-ˈres-tiŋ How to pronounce arresting (audio)
: catching the attention
an arresting painting

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