thrilling

adjective

thrill·​ing ˈthri-liŋ 

: causing a feeling of great excitement or happiness

a thrilling discovery

a thrilling performance

… flashes into the end zone to give the Rams the winning touchdown in the most thrilling Super Bowl finish ever.

—Rick Reilly

thrillingly

ˈthri-liŋ-lē 

adverb

Who, in fact, are the good guys and who are the bad guys in the dramas that unfold here so thrillingly?

—Marie Winn

… this is a powerful and thrillingly strange movie …

—Terrence Rafferty

Synonyms of thrilling

• exciting
• breathtaking
• interesting
• intriguing

Examples of thrilling in a Sentence

a thrilling adventure movie

Recent Examples on the Web

How thrilling to see such an innately feminine film, which completely centers the enormity and complexity of a woman’s love, be honored on such a massive stage. —Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 16 Mar. 2026

These images are perplexing, thrilling—visual nuts to crack. —Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2026

Starring Tony Award-winner Daniel Radcliffe, the solo production is unique and thrilling, reminding viewers of life’s magical and, yes, brilliant delights. —Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 13 Mar. 2026

Xavier, in its first year under Richard Pitino, son of back-to-back league champion, Rick, edged Marquette in a thrilling first round matchup on Wednesday night, 89-87. —Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 12 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1768, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for thrilling

• billing
• chilling
• drilling
• filling
• grilling
• killing
• milling
• pilling
• rilling
• schilling
• shilling
• skilling