thriller

noun

thrill·​er ˈthri-lər How to pronounce thriller (audio)
Synonyms of thrillernext
: one that thrills
especially : a work of fiction or drama designed to hold the interest by the use of a high degree of intrigue, adventure, or suspense

Examples of thriller in a Sentence

His latest novel is a political thriller. those television awards are hardly thrillers since the same people win year after year
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Wilde’s 2022 psychological thriller, headlined by Florence Pugh and Harry Styles, descended into tabloid chaos amid rampant speculation over an apparent feud between Pugh and Wilde, plus the romance between Wilde and Styles that allegedly originated during production. Zack Sharf, Variety, 24 June 2026 The follow-up to writer-director Martelli’s General Augusto Pinochet-era political thriller Chile ‘76 stars Maya O’Rourke, Maia Rae Domagala, Saskia Rosendahl, Jakub Gierszal, Paulina Urrutia and Mauricio Pešutić. Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 24 June 2026 The New Jersey native went on to star in classics like Madame X (1966) and In Cold Blood (1967), and scored a supporting role in Hitch’s late-period thriller Topaz (1969). Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 24 June 2026 Burn recently wrapped the action movie Foster opposite James Franco and Ron Perlman, and the horror sci-fi thriller Eyes In The Trees with Anthony Hopkins, Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Ashley Greene. Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 24 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for thriller

Word History

First Known Use

1889, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of thriller was in 1889

Cite this Entry

“Thriller.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thriller. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

thriller

noun
thril·​ler ˈthril-ər How to pronounce thriller (audio)
: one that thrills
especially : a work of fiction or drama with a great deal of action, mystery, adventure, or suspense

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