as in enthralling
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Recent Examples of suspenseful
The Thing is one of those rare sci-fi horrors that stands the test of time due to its suspenseful pacing and its groundbreaking practical effects by Rob Bottin, leaving you both frozen and scared stiff.
—
Huntley Woods, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Dec. 2025
This is, indeed, some suspenseful string music!
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 16 Dec. 2025
Its most gripping, least typical chapter describes an outbreak in breathlessly suspenseful detail, tracking the contagion from Alexandria, where a shipworker has a fateful encounter with a monkey’s fleas, all the way to England and, eventually, the Shakespeares’ doorstep.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 21 Nov. 2025
Lefranc’s adventures — exotic and suspenseful — would be a perfect fit for a Prime series.
—Ernesto Lechner, HollywoodReporter, 13 Nov. 2025
Death Note is an addictively suspenseful supernatural thriller — one in which the scariest person happens to be the story’s edgelord protagonist.
—Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2025
This family-friendly pick is fun, suspenseful and full of mystery.
—Emy Lacroix, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
The crowd held the power to choose who advanced—an energy that made every beat a suspenseful moment.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 28 Oct. 2025
The plot follows a group of law enforcement officers investigating a series of mysterious murders connected to the infamous Route 666, blending supernatural elements with urban legend for a suspenseful ride through the dark history of the road.
—Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 28 Oct. 2025
Huntley Woods, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Dec. 2025
This is, indeed, some suspenseful string music!
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 16 Dec. 2025
Its most gripping, least typical chapter describes an outbreak in breathlessly suspenseful detail, tracking the contagion from Alexandria, where a shipworker has a fateful encounter with a monkey’s fleas, all the way to England and, eventually, the Shakespeares’ doorstep.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 21 Nov. 2025
Lefranc’s adventures — exotic and suspenseful — would be a perfect fit for a Prime series.
—Ernesto Lechner, HollywoodReporter, 13 Nov. 2025
Death Note is an addictively suspenseful supernatural thriller — one in which the scariest person happens to be the story’s edgelord protagonist.
—Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2025
This family-friendly pick is fun, suspenseful and full of mystery.
—Emy Lacroix, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
The crowd held the power to choose who advanced—an energy that made every beat a suspenseful moment.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 28 Oct. 2025
The plot follows a group of law enforcement officers investigating a series of mysterious murders connected to the infamous Route 666, blending supernatural elements with urban legend for a suspenseful ride through the dark history of the road.
—Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 28 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for suspenseful
Adjective
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The 23-year-old is one of the Premier League’s most enthralling, threatening attackers.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
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For director Rowan Athale, the experience was enthralling but also wholly bizarre, largely because of the sheer amount of star-wattage in the room.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
5 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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The series' visceral approach and real-time structure (each episode chronicles a single hour) help to highlight the emotional and physical toll on emergency personnel, offering an engrossing alternative to romance-forward medical dramas like Grey's Anatomy.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Jan. 2026
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This engrossing read is where my rabbit-hole of knowledge about Milton Humason began, a janitor and mule skinner who helped with the construction of Mount Wilson Observatory, then went on to aid Hubble in several major discoveries.—
Space.com Staff,
Space.com,
28 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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Esperanza and Troy played a riveting showcase game Saturday at Orange Lutheran as excitement for high school girls basketball swept through Orange County.—
Dan Albano,
Oc Register,
11 Jan. 2026
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But after studying Indiana’s riveting head coach, Cuddy said Cignetti’s disposition is reinforced by a culture of accountability over theatrics.—
Scott Dochterman,
New York Times,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Slimmer and more self-assured now, dressed in suits and a tie, always charming and polite, Ramírez made more of an impression when accompanying his mother to diplomatic functions on the Latin American cocktail circuit.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Jan. 2026
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Sir Idris Elba flashes his charming smile while visiting the Graham Norton Show, at BBC Studioworks in London.—
Katie Hill,
PEOPLE,
16 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The regulars are certainly the soul of the show, and uniting them with the new lineup of musical guests is sure to create a captivating viewing experience for families and children everywhere.—
Sarah Scott,
Parents,
14 Jan. 2026
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The captivating final twist has had viewers asking whether or not there will be a second season.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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But a new study has cast doubt on the idea that the intriguing world shrouded in ice could indeed harbor extraterrestrial life deep in its vast ocean of liquid saltwater.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
8 Jan. 2026
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The most intriguing combo of late, though, features Robertson, Nicolas Roy and Easton Cowan.—
Jonas Siegel,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Ever gripping, wry, and immersive, this biography is for the many readers who love the specific cultural histories that reveal the grander truths of our time.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Jan. 2026
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Biel told us at InStyle of the gripping show.—
Meg Walters,
InStyle,
4 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The Cowboys have mastered the art of entertaining and interesting better than any sports franchise in the world, but there is a redundancy that to the person who spends a lot of their money on it is justifiably checked out.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Jan. 2026
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Seeing these guys unapologetically portrayed by an actor whose superpower is the audience is always with him was interesting.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Suspenseful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suspenseful. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.
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