thriller
THRILL-er
/ˈθrɪl.ər/
A novel, play, or movie with an exciting plot, typically involving crime, espionage, or suspense.
Designed specifically to evoke intense visceral emotional responses like suspense, anticipation, and anxiety.
The story behind the word. Traces back to Old English 'þyrlian', meaning 'to pierce through'. Over centuries, the sensation of being pierced transformed metaphorically into a shivering sensation of physical or emotional excitement ('thrill'). The noun 'thriller' for dramatic entertainment appeared in the late 19th century.
Word relationships
- suspense story: 'Suspense story' describes the tone, while 'thriller' is the formal commercial genre term.
- mystery: A mystery centers on solving a puzzle, while a thriller centers on escaping imminent danger or stopping a villain.
- pastoral: A pastoral work focuses on calm, serene rural life without high tension.
Commonly confused with
- horror: Horror aims to induce fear and disgust, while a thriller aims to induce high anxiety and adrenaline suspense.
Word family
- thrilling (adjective): Causing excitement or suspense.
- thrill (verb): To cause a sudden feeling of excitement.
Collocations
- psychological thriller
- action thriller
- suspense thriller
- legal thriller
Idioms & expressions
- edge-of-your-seat thriller
Example sentences
- "His latest psychological thriller kept readers guessing until the final page." Publishing
- "Alfred Hitchcock was widely recognized as the master of the suspense thriller." Cinema
Memory hook
A THRILLER THRILLS and pierces your spine with chills. Thrillers pierce you with suspense.
When not to use
Do not use 'thriller' for a pure mystery novel where intellectual deduction dominates over physical danger and high stakes.
Fun facts
- Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' music video made history in 1983 as the most successful music film ever created.
Explore more words
suspense, sensationalism, foreboding, dramatic, apprehensive, visceral
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