as in thrillers
something (as a close contest) that induces much suspense as to its outcome
since they had been dating for five years, her answer to his proposal wasn't exactly a hair-raiser
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Recent Examples of hair-raisers
The streamer has a deep bench of horror films from all eras of cinema among its offerings, from influential classics like Nosferatu (1922) to newer hair-raisers like Possessor (2020), and all kinds of thrillers and chillers in between.
—
Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Jan. 2026
Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hair-raisers
thrillers
Noun
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Australian actress Abbie Cornish took to the stage at the Taormina Film Festival on Thursday for a discussion on her career featuring Palme d’Or contender Bright Star, Oscar winner Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri and crime thrillers Jack Ryan and Detained among some 50 credits.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
11 June 2026
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Arruda and the Rams edged out nine-inning thrillers in each of the first two rounds and battled all the way through a highly competitive finish once again.—
Tom Mulherin,
Boston Herald,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hair-raisers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hair-raisers. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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