thriller

noun

thrill·​er ˈthri-lər How to pronounce thriller (audio)
: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The film received the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films’ best thriller award in 2025, as well as the STIGES Film Festival Grand People’s Choice Award. Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 24 July 2025 Set against a backdrop of music, madness and raw unpredictability of nature, the film follows a meet-cute that spirals into a survival thriller. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 24 July 2025 Danny Boyle’s horror thriller 28 Years Later, starring Ralph Fiennes, Jodi Comer and Aaron Taylor-Johnson, is reportedly coming soon to digital streaming. Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025 Known for her young adult thrillers, including the popular BookTok hit A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, the author is already a beloved name within the genre. Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 22 July 2025 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

Cite this Entry

“Thriller.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thriller. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on thriller

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