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
There was a frisson of excitement.
—
Jay Glennie, HollywoodReporter, 19 Sep. 2025
This in itself makes a refreshing change from the usual baffling Marvel McGuffin, and even though the outcome is wholly predictable, there’s a definite frisson in the sight of The Herald’s liquid-metal hand trying to snatch Sue’s baby from the womb.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 22 July 2025
At some kind of reception in a high-end Manhattan hotel, guest Sophie (Silverstone) claps eyes on cater waiter Elliot (Glusman), creating immediate mutual frisson.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 3 July 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
Jay Glennie, HollywoodReporter, 19 Sep. 2025
This in itself makes a refreshing change from the usual baffling Marvel McGuffin, and even though the outcome is wholly predictable, there’s a definite frisson in the sight of The Herald’s liquid-metal hand trying to snatch Sue’s baby from the womb.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 22 July 2025
At some kind of reception in a high-end Manhattan hotel, guest Sophie (Silverstone) claps eyes on cater waiter Elliot (Glusman), creating immediate mutual frisson.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 3 July 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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There’s also the thrill of opening loot boxes, which can trigger a feeling like hitting the jackpot on a slot machine.—
Sherri Gordon,
Parents,
3 Feb. 2026
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Reliving the thrill of the moon landing Of course, not all great space films need to rely on fiction.—
Lily Hautau,
CNN Money,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The guys in blue kick toward the yellow poles but the guys in white just kick it back across the field.—
Hannah Keyser,
CNN Money,
9 Feb. 2026
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With four direct free-kick goals under his belt in 2025-26, Liverpool haven’t had a more potent dead-ball specialist since Luis Suarez netted five in 2012-13.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Frisson.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frisson. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.
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