cheap thrill
noun
: a minor thing done for entertainment
He likes to harass the neighbor's dog as a cheap thrill.
Examples of cheap thrill in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
At full price, a GE Opal 2.0 is $629–no cheap thrill (the simpler 1.0 model is on sale for $300 too, by the way).
—
Lauren Joseph, Bon Appétit, 29 Nov. 2024
Sia has now entered YouTube’s billion views club twice with the same song — how’s that for a cheap thrill?
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 8 May 2024
Who doesn't get a cheap thrill out of yelling at the TV every time a player gives an answer that is obviously wrong?
—Tanner Stransky, EW.com, 8 Apr. 2024
For a cheap thrill, check out our list of deals under $25, with finds up to 65 percent off from Amazon, Target, Lululemon, Nordstrom, and Spanx.
—Nicola Fumo, Peoplemag, 27 Dec. 2023
What appealed to white patrons in the mid-20th century looking for entertaining distraction, mining Pacific Islander culture for a cheap thrill, now has a new audience of people of all backgrounds.
—Ben Mims, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2023
Instead, Jocelyn’s transformation feels like a cheap thrill.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 July 2023
Plastic bugs also work for a cheap thrill when placed in drawers, under pillows ... anywhere around the house where kids will discover them with a squeal! 12 13 Pop Brussels sprouts on candy sticks and cover them with chocolate or candy wrappers.
—Alesandra Dubin, Good Housekeeping, 21 Feb. 2023
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.
Lauren Joseph, Bon Appétit, 29 Nov. 2024
Sia has now entered YouTube’s billion views club twice with the same song — how’s that for a cheap thrill?
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 8 May 2024
Who doesn't get a cheap thrill out of yelling at the TV every time a player gives an answer that is obviously wrong?
—Tanner Stransky, EW.com, 8 Apr. 2024
For a cheap thrill, check out our list of deals under $25, with finds up to 65 percent off from Amazon, Target, Lululemon, Nordstrom, and Spanx.
—Nicola Fumo, Peoplemag, 27 Dec. 2023
What appealed to white patrons in the mid-20th century looking for entertaining distraction, mining Pacific Islander culture for a cheap thrill, now has a new audience of people of all backgrounds.
—Ben Mims, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2023
Instead, Jocelyn’s transformation feels like a cheap thrill.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 July 2023
Plastic bugs also work for a cheap thrill when placed in drawers, under pillows ... anywhere around the house where kids will discover them with a squeal! 12 13 Pop Brussels sprouts on candy sticks and cover them with chocolate or candy wrappers.
—Alesandra Dubin, Good Housekeeping, 21 Feb. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Cheap thrill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cheap%20thrill. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share