ˈspine-ˌchilling BrE AmE adjective
a spine-chilling story or film is very frightening in a way that people enjoy
—spine-chiller noun [countable]
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THESAURUS
■ very frightening
▪ terrifying extremely frightening:
a terrifying thought
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The experience was absolutely terrifying.
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She spoke of the terrifying ordeal (=a very bad experience) when three armed men burst into her house.
▪ hair-raising very frightening and involving danger, in a way that is exciting:
hair-raising stories
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a hair-raising motorcycle ride through the streets of Havana
▪ spine-chilling very frightening – used about films, stories etc that involve frightening or cruel events:
a spine-chilling novel by Stephen King
▪ blood-curdling especially literary [only before noun] very frightening – used especially about sounds:
a blood-curdling scream
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a blood-curdling growl