as in thrill
a pleasurably intense stimulation of the feelings
those two are still caught up in the giddy frisson of a new romance
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Recent Examples of frisson
In today’s newsletter: Why Cannes still flexes in a chaotic industry
How to roll with the chaos without losing your cool
Why hustling beats clinging to the past
This year, Cannes will have an extra frisson of, uh, excitement thanks to Trump’s tariff tantrum and the vibe toward Americans in general.
—
Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 12 May 2025
Its background, a pale yellow gradient, still gives me a slight frisson, like a Playboy issue hidden under the bed.
—Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 30 Apr. 2025
And yet there was little news in it, beyond the frisson of excitement at the beginning when Al Green, a Texas Democrat, was thrown out of the chamber for protesting.
—Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 5 Mar. 2025
When the wearer’s partner touches his or her smartphone—the sensitive regions are helpfully indicated on a template on the phone’s screen—the wearer feels a gentle frisson, or even a light stroke, depending on whether the partner has touched or swiped the screen.
—IEEE Spectrum, 11 Mar. 2014
See All Example Sentences for frisson
Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 12 May 2025
Its background, a pale yellow gradient, still gives me a slight frisson, like a Playboy issue hidden under the bed.
—Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 30 Apr. 2025
And yet there was little news in it, beyond the frisson of excitement at the beginning when Al Green, a Texas Democrat, was thrown out of the chamber for protesting.
—Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 5 Mar. 2025
When the wearer’s partner touches his or her smartphone—the sensitive regions are helpfully indicated on a template on the phone’s screen—the wearer feels a gentle frisson, or even a light stroke, depending on whether the partner has touched or swiped the screen.
—IEEE Spectrum, 11 Mar. 2014
See All Example Sentences for frisson
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frisson
Noun
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The roadster lets drivers experience sports car thrills for a starting price of $29,830.—
Charles Singh,
Nashville Tennessean,
26 Sep. 2025
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The music sweeps us up in the queasy thrill of revolt, but also in the heat and momentum of an impetuous romance.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Students crowded around dormitory screens, a wedding paused for the final kick, and car horns rang out as flags streamed from open windows.—
Nina Subkhanberdina,
CNN Money,
30 Sep. 2025
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All in all, an ideal movie snack with enough kick to prevent you from overeating.—
Alaina Chou,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
30 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Frisson.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frisson. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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