SUSPENSEFUL Synonyms: 84 Similar and Opposite Words

suspenseful

adjective

Definition of suspenseful

as in enthralling

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Recent Examples of suspenseful 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 Watch On Despite containing a plot summary in its title and a tepid reception when it was released, director Andrew Dominik’s meditative film manages to be both suspenseful and insightful. — David Faris, TheWeek, 21 Aug. 2026 The Coen brothers’ quiet debut film is among their most suspenseful works. — Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Aug. 2026 None of this is remotely credible, or particularly suspenseful. — Dennis Harvey, Variety, 5 Aug. 2026 Through engaging characters and an immersive historical setting, the novel invites readers on a suspenseful journey filled with mystery, sacrifice, and hope. — William Jones, USA Today, 30 July 2026 The suspenseful shark sequences in an underwater cage where two distressed heroines Tatiana (Laura Marano) and Kaley (Christina Ochoa) get trapped are shockingly good while a third act ratchets up the blood and the tension. — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 30 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for suspenseful

Adjective

By the end of the fight, an enthralling contest which Taylor won by a somewhat wide 27 points to 3, the crowd was on their feet.

— Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Richet turns the ship into an enthralling character, with its pipes and catwalks and tunnels and tubes, some of which become weaponry.

— Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of enthralling

Adjective

In 2022, the author of this engrossing investigation travelled to Lagos, Nigeria, to find the person who, years earlier, ensnared his mother in an online romance scam.

— The New Yorker, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026
The most engrossing aspect of the relationship is that it’s maintained tension.

— Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 24 June 2026

Definition of engrossing

Adjective

After a riveting night of dance from the male contestants, the ladies took to ballroom floor by storm.

— Colleen Kratofil, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2026
Ridley Scott was that rarest of beasts in Hollywood, a guy who could make one riveting blockbuster after another while maintaining absolute creative integrity.

— Jimmy Chin, HollywoodReporter, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of riveting

Adjective

In its reporting, Southern Living magazine praised the fan-favorite destination for its charming downtown and proximity to scenic views.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 16 Sep. 2026
The time-bending romance, led by the charming Louis Garrel, is based on Hungry Heart, a book of shorts by Eshkol Nevo.

— Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of charming

Adjective

Jodie Comer won the Tony and Olivier awards for the stage version, and Erivo proved equally captivating on the big screen — albeit under a very specific racial and socioeconomic context.

— Angelique Jackson, Variety, 14 Sep. 2026
These students impressed us with their discerning angles, diligent research, and captivating storytelling.

— Rolling Stone, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of captivating

Adjective

At the same time, each frame builds upon the last to create a gripping, caustically funny narrative about patriarchy, disempowerment and compliance.

— Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Most of the time — most memorably during the film’s gripping, dialogue-free heist sequence — Melville does this without words at all.

— Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of gripping

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suspense

suspenseful

suspenseless

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“Suspenseful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suspenseful. Accessed 20 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of suspenseful

adjective

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