The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Excite \Ex*cite"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Excited; p. pr. & vb.
   n. exciting.] [L. excitare; ex out + citare to move
   rapidly, to rouse: cf. OF. esciter, exciter, F. exciter. See
   Cite.]
   1. To call to activity in any way; to rouse to feeling; to
      kindle to passionate emotion; to stir up to combined or
      general activity; as, to excite a person, the spirits, the
      passions; to excite a mutiny or insurrection; to excite
      heat by friction.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Physiol.) To call forth or increase the vital activity of
      an organism, or any of its parts.

   3. (Elec.) To energize (an electro-magnet); to produce a
      magnetic field in; as, to excite a dynamo.
      [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

   4. (Physics) To raise to a higher energy level; -- used
      especially of atoms or molecules, or of electrons within
      atoms or molecules; as, absorption of a photon excites the
      cesium atom, which subsequently radiates the excess
      energy.
      [Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC]

   Syn: To incite; awaken; animate; rouse or arouse; stimulate;
        inflame; irritate; provoke.

   Usage: To Excite, Incite. When we excite we rouse into
          action feelings which were less strong; when we incite
          we spur on or urge forward to a specific act or end.
          Demosthenes excited the passions of the Athenians
          against Philip, and thus incited the whole nation to
          unite in the war against him. Antony, by his speech
          over the body of C[ae]sar, so excited the feelings of
          the populace, that Brutus and his companions were
          compelled to flee from Rome; many however, were
          incited to join their standard, not only by love of
          liberty, but hopes of plunder.
          [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Exciting \Ex*cit"ing\, a.
   Calling or rousing into action; producing excitement; as,
   exciting events; an exciting story. -- Ex*cit"ing*ly, adv.
   [1913 Webster]

   Exciting causes (Med.), those which immediately produce
      disease, or those which excite the action of predisposing
      causes.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

exciting
    adj 1: creating or arousing excitement; "an exciting account of
           her trip" [ant: unexciting]
    2: stimulating interest and discussion; "an exciting novel"

Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

151 Moby Thesaurus words for "exciting":
   acceptable, adorable, agitating, agreeable, alluring, amazing,
   appealing, appetizing, ardent, arresting, astonishing, astounding,
   attractive, beguiling, bewitching, blandishing, breathtaking,
   burning, cajoling, captivating, catching, challenging, charged,
   charismatic, charming, cliff-hanging, coaxing, come-hither,
   coquettish, desirable, disquieting, distracting, disturbing,
   electric, electrifying, emphatic, enchanting, encouraging,
   energizing, engaging, enravishing, enthralling, enthusiastic,
   enticing, entrancing, enviable, exhilarating, exhilarative, exotic,
   fascinating, fervent, fetching, fiery, flirtatious, galvanic,
   galvanizing, glamorous, glowing, heady, heart-expanding,
   heart-stirring, heart-swelling, heart-thrilling, hypnotic,
   impassioned, impressive, inflammatory, inspiring, interesting,
   intoxicating, intriguing, invigorating, inviting, irresistible,
   jarring, jolting, juicy, likable, lively, lovable, maddening,
   mesmeric, mind-blowing, mind-boggling, mouth-watering, moving,
   overcoming, overmastering, overpowering, overwhelming, passionate,
   perturbing, piquant, pleasing, prepossessing, prompting,
   provocative, provoking, provoquant, racy, ravishing, readable,
   rich, rip-roaring, rousing, seducing, seductive, sensuous, sexy,
   siren, sirenic, soul-stirring, spellbinding, spellful, spicy,
   spirit-stirring, stimulant, stimulating, stimulative, stirring,
   striking, succulent, suspenseful, suspensive, taking, tantalizing,
   teasing, telling, tempting, thought-challenging, thought-inspiring,
   thought-provoking, thrilling, thrilly, tickling, titillating,
   titillative, to be desired, toothsome, troubling, unobjectionable,
   unsettling, upsetting, urgent, vehement, voluptuous, warm, winning,
   winsome, witching, worth having