suspenseful

adjective

Definition of suspensefulnext
as in enthralling

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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
  • There is something about the winter that still feels exotic and enthralling to me.
    — Divia Thani, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Nov. 2026
  • Yet her singular spirit powers her through a remarkable and enthralling journey of forgiveness, found family and indelible joy.
    — Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 8 Nov. 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
  • Tangier is a charming tangle of small houses connected by narrow roads traversed by golf carts and exceedingly few cars.
    — John Anglim, CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2026
  • Queenslanders are delightful and charming, and have become recognizable to millions of viewers around the world who tune into Brisbane's most famous export, Bluey.
    — Erin Florio, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 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
  • But Kansas State made things interesting and still had a chance for a comeback with two minutes remaining, only down 20-10.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Nov. 2026
  • Sagittarius November 22 – December 21 One question could make an ordinary conversation unexpectedly interesting.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 15 Nov. 2026
Definition of interesting

Browse Nearby Words

suspense
suspenseful
suspenseless
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Suspenseful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suspenseful. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of lissome

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Nov. 13

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
speech-bubble-untangle
Simplify The Convoluted Expression Quiz A quiz that’s as “uncomplicated as a round de...
See All