noun
thriller
THRIH-luh
noun
1
A book, film, or play built around suspense, danger, and excitement.
"The movie is a psychological thriller about a detective hunting a serial killer."
"She writes crime thrillers set in small English towns."
How to Use Thriller
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA story genre designed to keep you tense and on edge.
Common pairings
psychological thriller
crime thriller
edge-of-your-seat thriller
Word Forms
thrillers plural
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The movie is a psychological _____ about a detective hunting a serial killer.
Etymology
Formed from thrill plus the agent suffix -er, meaning "something that thrills."