thriller

noun

thrill·​er ˈthri-lər How to pronounce thriller (audio)
Synonyms of thrillernext
: one that thrills
especially : a work of fiction or drama designed to hold the interest by the use of a high degree of intrigue, adventure, or suspense

Synonyms of thriller

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Examples of thriller in a Sentence

His latest novel is a political thriller. those television awards are hardly thrillers since the same people win year after year
Recent Examples on the Web
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Variety reports that the psychological thriller, which stars Jennifer Lawrence and Leonardo DiCaprio as a married couple who travel to European small town to adopt a baby, will feature a cameo from Charli. — Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 22 Oct. 2026 Here’s a first look at Minnie Driver as a hostage negotiator in Paramount+‘s tense heist thriller The Day. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2026 Genres run from crime thrillers and detective mysteries to folklore horror, social and courtroom drama, and romance. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 22 Oct. 2026 Lang, who plays Colonel Miles Quaritch in James Cameron’s Avatar franchise, has signed on to star in The Mercy Rider, a modern-day Western thriller which Edel will direct from a script by Richard Julian. — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for thriller

Word History

First Known Use

1889, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of thriller was in 1889

Phrases Containing thriller

Rhymes for thriller

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Browse Nearby Words

thrilled to death/pieces
thriller
thrillful
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Cite this Entry

“Thriller.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thriller. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

thriller

noun
thril·​ler ˈthril-ər How to pronounce thriller (audio)
: one that thrills
especially : a work of fiction or drama with a great deal of action, mystery, adventure, or suspense
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