as in thrillers
something (as a close contest) that induces much suspense as to its outcome
finally, a Super Bowl game that turned out to be a real cliff-hanger
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Recent Examples of cliff-hangers
And many have speculated that Netflix’s vast trove of data informs certain narrative habits on its shows (cliff-hangers to encourage bingeing, for example, and frequent restating of plot points to engage viewers distracted by their phones).
—
Geoff Colvin,
Fortune,
13 Mar. 2026
The biggest key to the success of minidramas, though, is the cliff-hangers, which push viewers to keep paying for the next episode.
—
Yixuan Tan,
NBC news,
17 Aug. 2025
Which means there are some major cliff-hangers to obsess over for the next few weeks.
—
Elizabeth Logan,
Glamour,
11 Aug. 2025
Geoff Colvin,
Fortune,
13 Mar. 2026
The biggest key to the success of minidramas, though, is the cliff-hangers, which push viewers to keep paying for the next episode.
—
Yixuan Tan,
NBC news,
17 Aug. 2025
Which means there are some major cliff-hangers to obsess over for the next few weeks.
—
Elizabeth Logan,
Glamour,
11 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cliff-hangers
thrillers
Noun
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Below is a selection of powerful reads for every taste, ranging from spine-tingling thrillers to poignant reflections on American history, swoony romance and everything in between.
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Known for twisty, psychological thrillers with dark themes, tragedies, time jumps and lightning-fast pacing, Coben's books and shows have captivated audiences for years.
Cite this Entry
“Cliff-hangers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cliff-hangers. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
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