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
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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 7 Jul. 2025.
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