suspenseful

adjective

Definition of suspensefulnext
as in enthralling

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of suspenseful The Colonial Players present adaptation of Washington Irving’s classic ghost story, featuring spooky themes, comedic scares, stylized violence, suspenseful moments, and mild language. — Jamie Chapman, Baltimore Sun, 28 Oct. 2026 The best of these films are simultaneously suspenseful, thought-provoking and dazzling. — David Faris, TheWeek, 27 Oct. 2026 Regardless, even if one of the seasonal titles doesn’t make it to the top spot in 2026, this year’s Halloween showdown could very well be the start of a newly suspenseful annual race on the Hot 100, one likely to continue in 2027 and beyond. — Andrew Unterberger, Billboard, 23 Oct. 2026 There’s this funny conceit that all the people in Slough House are a bit of screwups, but the show also gets very emotional and suspenseful, and the stakes are often very high. — Lisa De Los Reyes, HollywoodReporter, 16 Sep. 2026 If the idea is to make the Emmys even less suspenseful, mission accomplished. — Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026 But, though the special effects are killer, what makes the show click is its suspenseful melancholy, as quiet scenes build to jolts so intense that the whole audience screamed. — Rhoda Feng, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026 Paranormal Activity understands just how much fun that can be, crafting a story so suspenseful, so surprising and so startling that the audience’s screams become a soundtrack all their own. — Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026 The Coen brothers’ quiet debut film is among their most suspenseful works. — Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for suspenseful
  1. enthralling
  2. engrossing
  3. riveting
  4. charming
  5. captivating
  6. intriguing
  7. gripping
  8. interesting
Adjective
  • Kamran Pasha has devised a truly unique take that honors the source material while expanding it in an enthralling, unexpected way.
    — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
  • And in the face of such adversity, the fanbase has opted for a measure of gallows humor – symbolized by hundreds of inflatable yellow bananas that punctuated the capacity crowd that was treated to an enthralling match against PSG.
    — Ben Church, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of enthralling
Adjective
  • The protagonist of this engrossing novel, Sophie, begins the story freshly separated, broke, and working on the production crew of a local literary festival.
    — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Many horror hits are more fascinating or engrossing than terrifying.
    — David Faris, TheWeek, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of engrossing
Adjective
  • Herzog’s meticulously researched procedural is a riveting summer read that does for all insects what Jaws does for the ocean.
    — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Nov. 2026
  • The film includes a riveting scene where the exonerated men — Ransom Watkins, Andrew Stewart, and Alfred Chestnut – meet face-to-face with a man who recanted his testimony that had helped convict the trio decades earlier.
    — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of riveting
Adjective
  • Robertson and Sepulveda play two friends who travel to a remote Italian village to settle a family estate, where their trip spirals into a deadly game of deception at the hands of a charming hunter with a terrifying secret (Armitage).
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2026
  • The hair was much less polished, but all the more charming and elegant for it.
    — María Diez, Glamour, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of charming
Adjective
  • While a black pump would have been an easy choice to go along with the black details of the look, the white pumps helped elongate her leg and gave the look a captivating contrast.
    — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 26 Oct. 2026
  • And then there is the captivating presence of a handsome and flirtatious accountant called Nicholas.
    — Malcolm Forbes, Christian Science Monitor, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of captivating
Adjective
  • The centrepiece of the archaeological site is a massive rock which is more than 20 feet long and features an intriguing engraving of a powerful being.
    — James Rampton, TheWeek, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Touches of surrealism—or even magic—in author-illustrator Jimmy Liao’s detailed artwork add intriguing layers to the story.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of intriguing
Adjective
  • With Rachael Dahl’s fresh perspective behind the camera and a compelling cast led by Casey Cott and Margot Pitts, the film offers a gripping premise with strong international appeal.
    — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 2 Nov. 2026
  • There's also lots of original programming, including a gripping Australian crime drama and a Korean tale of betrayal and power.
    — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of gripping
Adjective
  • Kentucky Most of the attention today will go to Miami-Notre Dame and the Holy War, which makes Kentucky the most interesting spot on the board.
    — OutKick, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2026
  • For fall to winter, the trick is to introduce heavier textures, interesting proportions, and accessories that feel decidedly more 2026 than 2006.
    — Georgia Brown, Glamour, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of interesting

Browse Nearby Words

suspense
suspenseful
suspenseless
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Cite this Entry

“Suspenseful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suspenseful. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

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