arresting

[ uh-res-ting ]

adjective

1. attracting or capable of attracting attention or interest; striking:

   an arresting smile.

2. making or having made an arrest:

   the arresting officer.

arresting

/ əˈrɛstɪŋ /

adjective

1. attracting attention; striking

Derived Forms

• arˈrestingly, adverb

Other Words From

• ar·resting·ly adverb
• nonar·resting adjective
• unar·resting adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of arresting¹

arrest + -ing ²

Example Sentences

With a sterling record of busting down doors and arresting armed suspects over her decade in SWAT, Los Angeles police Lt.

From Los Angeles Times

David Brooks’ arrestingly headlined New York Times column — “Voters to Elites: Do You See Me Now?” — contains a sentence that stopped me cold, possibly for a reason that both Brooks and I had forgotten.

From Salon

Composer jokes included an arresting scene of this Don writing an aria worthy of PDQ Bach.

From Los Angeles Times

After arresting Warren, detectives searched his mother’s home in Long Beach.

From Los Angeles Times

During the incident, the arresting officer made an error administering a criminal caution, “causing a colleague to laugh in the background”.

From BBC

Related Words

• extraordinary
• eye-catching
• impressive
• remarkable
• salient
• striking
• stunning