: 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
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
Structured a bit like a thriller, the film is set during 72 hours in an NBA lockout, as sports agent Ray (an ace André Holland) attempts to pitch a deal that will get his star rookie paid and save his agency.
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David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 14 Mar. 2025
Adapted from the book of the same name by Dennis Tafoya (whose specialty is thrillers and noirs set in Philadelphia, reminiscent of Dennis Lehane’s bond with Boston, S. A. Cosby’s with Virginia, and Jordan Harper’s with California), Dope Thief immediately drops us into its North Philly setting.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2025
The thriller — which also stars Allison Janney, Andrew Rannells, and Alex Newell — follows Stephanie (Kendrick) as she is whisked away to Capri in Italy to attend the wedding of her frenemy Emily (Lively).
—EW.com, 14 Mar. 2025
From Christina Baker Kline and Anne Burt comes Please Don't Lie, a thriller set against the haunting backdrop of the Adirondacks which follows a young newlywed woman seeking to start fresh in a remote town.
—Rachel Raposas, People.com, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for thriller
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David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 14 Mar. 2025
Adapted from the book of the same name by Dennis Tafoya (whose specialty is thrillers and noirs set in Philadelphia, reminiscent of Dennis Lehane’s bond with Boston, S. A. Cosby’s with Virginia, and Jordan Harper’s with California), Dope Thief immediately drops us into its North Philly setting.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2025
The thriller — which also stars Allison Janney, Andrew Rannells, and Alex Newell — follows Stephanie (Kendrick) as she is whisked away to Capri in Italy to attend the wedding of her frenemy Emily (Lively).
—EW.com, 14 Mar. 2025
From Christina Baker Kline and Anne Burt comes Please Don't Lie, a thriller set against the haunting backdrop of the Adirondacks which follows a young newlywed woman seeking to start fresh in a remote town.
—Rachel Raposas, People.com, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for thriller
Cite this Entry
“Thriller.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thriller. Accessed 29 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
thriller
noun
thril·ler
ˈthril-ər 
: one that thrills
especially
: a work of fiction or drama with a great deal of action, mystery, adventure, or suspense
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