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.
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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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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
“Hair-raisers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hair-raisers. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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