Hitchcockian

adjective

Hitch·cock·ian hich-ˈkä-kē-ən

: of, relating to, or suggestive of the cinematic style or technique of Alfred Hitchcock

Secret identities and hidden intentions are classic Hitchcockian tropes …—Shirrel Rhoades

often : having a pervasive air of unease or suspense

There's a Hitchcockian foreboding—a sense that someone is about to open a shadowy door and never return … —Isabelia Herrera

Examples of Hitchcockian in a Sentence

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Loznitsa’s methods are grim and exacting, but the effect is never monotonous; there are shivers of Hitchcockian suspense, plus a whispery cackle of satire that veers toward the Kafkaesque. — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2026 Silhouettes from the 1960s, such as twee miniskirts and babydoll dresses, were crafted in rich fabrics and Hitchcockian hues. — Kevin Huynh, InStyle, 12 Mar. 2026 The accompanying illustration shows a terrified boy running from a sky full of books flapping their pages like Hitchcockian birds. — Richard Sandomir, New York Times, 10 Feb. 2026 But her glam team went in an entirely different retro direction, evoking the murder-mystery vibes behind the series and throwing it back to the 1960s with a Hitchcockian beauty moment. — Marci Robin, Allure, 6 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for Hitchcockian

Word History

First Known Use

1930, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of Hitchcockian was in 1930

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Browse Nearby Words

Hitchcock chair

Hitchcockian

hitcher

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Hitchcockian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Hitchcockian. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Hitchcockian

adjective

Examples of Hitchcockian in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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