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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of thrillers
Below is a selection of powerful reads for every taste, ranging from spine-tingling thrillers to poignant reflections on American history, swoony romance and everything in between.
—
Janey Wetzel,
PEOPLE,
19 June 2026
Known for twisty, psychological thrillers with dark themes, tragedies, time jumps and lightning-fast pacing, Coben's books and shows have captivated audiences for years.
—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
But contemporary thrillers might be an even more immediate proposition.
—
Callum McLennan,
Variety,
18 June 2026
The result was a set of riveting political thrillers.
—
The Week Us,
TheWeek,
17 June 2026
These are not the times for high-minded prestige series that require active viewing to appreciate every nuance, nor for thrillers and comedies exciting enough to quicken the pulse.
—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
16 June 2026
Australian actress Abbie Cornish took to the stage at the Taormina Film Festival on Thursday for a discussion on her career featuring Palme d’Or contender Bright Star, Oscar winner Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri and crime thrillers Jack Ryan and Detained among some 50 credits.
—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
11 June 2026
Arruda and the Rams edged out nine-inning thrillers in each of the first two rounds and battled all the way through a highly competitive finish once again.
—
Tom Mulherin,
Boston Herald,
8 June 2026
Regardless, Georgia fans brought the energy at Foley Field and Kudzu Hill, and the Bulldogs came out on top in two thrillers.
—
Sarah Spencer,
AJC.com,
8 June 2026
Janey Wetzel,
PEOPLE,
19 June 2026
Known for twisty, psychological thrillers with dark themes, tragedies, time jumps and lightning-fast pacing, Coben's books and shows have captivated audiences for years.
—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
But contemporary thrillers might be an even more immediate proposition.
—
Callum McLennan,
Variety,
18 June 2026
The result was a set of riveting political thrillers.
—
The Week Us,
TheWeek,
17 June 2026
These are not the times for high-minded prestige series that require active viewing to appreciate every nuance, nor for thrillers and comedies exciting enough to quicken the pulse.
—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
16 June 2026
Australian actress Abbie Cornish took to the stage at the Taormina Film Festival on Thursday for a discussion on her career featuring Palme d’Or contender Bright Star, Oscar winner Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri and crime thrillers Jack Ryan and Detained among some 50 credits.
—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
11 June 2026
Arruda and the Rams edged out nine-inning thrillers in each of the first two rounds and battled all the way through a highly competitive finish once again.
—
Tom Mulherin,
Boston Herald,
8 June 2026
Regardless, Georgia fans brought the energy at Foley Field and Kudzu Hill, and the Bulldogs came out on top in two thrillers.
—
Sarah Spencer,
AJC.com,
8 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thrillers
Noun
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Although there have been hundreds of close calls and nail-biters, there have been some comebacks that feel like a movie come to life.
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The Avs, who won the President’s Trophy with the league’s best regular-season record, opened the playoffs with a pair of 2-1 nail-biters over the Kings.
Noun
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And many have speculated that Netflix’s vast trove of data informs certain narrative habits on its shows (cliff-hangers to encourage bingeing, for example, and frequent restating of plot points to engage viewers distracted by their phones).
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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.
Cite this Entry
“Thrillers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thrillers. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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