thriller

noun

thrill·​er ˈthri-lər 

: 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

Synonyms of thriller

• suspenser

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

At 48% on RT don’t expect the greatest thriller ever, but this sounds like a good edge-of-your-seat suspense film. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026

Erotic thrillers, a genre which peaked in the 1980s and ‘90s, have also been making a slow but steady comeback. — David MacK, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026

The new thriller, in development since at least 2024, brings the teeth-gnashing to New York, which sees gators in the streets and sewers after a hurricane hits the city. — Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 7 Aug. 2026

Arizona’s Carson Beck and King — two NFL rookies who once faced off in an eight-overtime college thriller won by Georgia’s Beck over Georgia Tech’s King — threw swords at each other throughout that second quarter. — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 7 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1889, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing thriller

• techno-thriller

Rhymes for thriller

• biller
• chiller
• driller
• filler
• hilar
• hiller
• killer
• pillar
• quiller
• siller
• spiller
• stiller

Kids Definition

thriller

noun

thril·​ler ˈthril-ər 

: one that thrills

especially : a work of fiction or drama with a great deal of action, mystery, adventure, or suspense