as in suspensers
something (as a close contest) that induces much suspense as to its outcome
those television awards are hardly thrillers since the same people win year after year
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Recent Examples of thrillers
These titles—from memoirs, literary fiction, thrillers, and even a bit of science fiction—hold true to the sentiment that moms and maternal figures can solve just about anything.
—
Amanda Favazza, Southern Living, 15 Feb. 2026
Alongside the continued dominance of genre packages, such as horror, action and thrillers, more films about relationships and romance have hit the market, hoping to make buyers’ hearts (and budgets) flutter.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
Geopolitics and spy thrillers were an obvious route.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
A couple of thrillers Enfield (13-3) won a close game over East Catholic last week, 52-50.
—Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 9 Feb. 2026
There are the thrillers — take Good American Family, based upon the case of Natalia Grace; or Under the Banner of Heaven, a gripping exploration of a double murder and its connection to religion; or Under the Bridge, about the 1997 slaying of a 14-year-old girl.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Jan. 2026
Spy thrillers have often included characters with multiple passports to evoke drama and suspense.
—Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 31 Jan. 2026
Also known as domestic suspense or domestic noir, the term generally encompasses psychological thrillers that are set in the home or neighborhood; interrogate familial or community relationships; and, usually, center around female characters.
—Judy Berman, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
The versatility he's demonstrated, moving seamlessly between legal thrillers, literary adaptations, and blockbuster action films, has turned him into a recognizable face far beyond Hollywood.
—Veronica Villafañe, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Amanda Favazza, Southern Living, 15 Feb. 2026
Alongside the continued dominance of genre packages, such as horror, action and thrillers, more films about relationships and romance have hit the market, hoping to make buyers’ hearts (and budgets) flutter.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
Geopolitics and spy thrillers were an obvious route.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
A couple of thrillers Enfield (13-3) won a close game over East Catholic last week, 52-50.
—Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 9 Feb. 2026
There are the thrillers — take Good American Family, based upon the case of Natalia Grace; or Under the Banner of Heaven, a gripping exploration of a double murder and its connection to religion; or Under the Bridge, about the 1997 slaying of a 14-year-old girl.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Jan. 2026
Spy thrillers have often included characters with multiple passports to evoke drama and suspense.
—Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 31 Jan. 2026
Also known as domestic suspense or domestic noir, the term generally encompasses psychological thrillers that are set in the home or neighborhood; interrogate familial or community relationships; and, usually, center around female characters.
—Judy Berman, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
The versatility he's demonstrated, moving seamlessly between legal thrillers, literary adaptations, and blockbuster action films, has turned him into a recognizable face far beyond Hollywood.
—Veronica Villafañe, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thrillers
Noun
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Even long-term nail-biters, or those whose nails are prone to breakage, tend to have success with growth.—
Tori Crowther,
Refinery29,
29 Jan. 2026
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For the gym-goers and habitual nail-biters in your life, this is an essential gift.—
The Editors,
Outside,
14 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The biggest key to the success of minidramas, though, is the cliff-hangers, which push viewers to keep paying for the next episode.—
Yixuan Tan,
NBC news,
17 Aug. 2025
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Which means there are some major cliff-hangers to obsess over for the next few weeks.—
Elizabeth Logan,
Glamour,
11 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Thrillers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thrillers. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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