View synonyms for

thriller

[ thril-er ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a person or thing that thrills.
an exciting, suspenseful play or story, especially a mystery story.

thriller

/ ˈθ��ɪ��ə /

noun

a book, film, play, etc, depicting crime, mystery, or espionage in an atmosphere of excitement and suspense
a person or thing that thrills

thriller

A suspenseful, sensational story or film: “Ken Follett writes best-selling spy thrillers.”

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Notes

In Great Britain , the word thriller is sometimes used for all mystery novels : “Martha Grimes, an American, writes British-style thrillers.”

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Word History and Origins

Origin of thriller¹

1885–90; 1920–25 thriller fordef 2; thrill + -er ¹

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

“Sinners” features a refreshingly original plot that is part Jim Crow period piece about two brothers who open a juke joint, part vampire thriller.

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The team behind Netflix's new action thriller Havoc say it will "put Wales on the map" for filmmakers across the world.

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The first season of the gritty, grounded spy thriller, which launched in 2022, was hailed by critics and audiences for its mature storytelling and political themes.

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Donald Trump had only been president for four months and a global pandemic was downright inconceivable, an idea reserved for paranoia thrillers.

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It is to be hoped he did not follow his own advice otherwise he would have missed a thriller that left the stadium knee-deep in chewed fingernails by the final whistle.

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Related Words

thrilled thrilling

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