suspenseful

adjective

Definition of suspensefulnext
as in enthralling

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of suspenseful Paranormal Activity understands just how much fun that can be, crafting a story so suspenseful, so surprising and so startling that the audience’s screams become a soundtrack all their own. — Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026 Watch On Despite containing a plot summary in its title and a tepid reception when it was released, director Andrew Dominik’s meditative film manages to be both suspenseful and insightful. — David Faris, TheWeek, 21 Aug. 2026 The Coen brothers’ quiet debut film is among their most suspenseful works. — Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Aug. 2026 None of this is remotely credible, or particularly suspenseful. — Dennis Harvey, Variety, 5 Aug. 2026 Through engaging characters and an immersive historical setting, the novel invites readers on a suspenseful journey filled with mystery, sacrifice, and hope. — William Jones, USA Today, 30 July 2026 The suspenseful shark sequences in an underwater cage where two distressed heroines Tatiana (Laura Marano) and Kaley (Christina Ochoa) get trapped are shockingly good while a third act ratchets up the blood and the tension. — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 30 July 2026 Set in occupied Poland in the middle of the Second World War, Holoubek’s tour de force is part suspenseful western, part gritty wartime noir. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 21 July 2026 Unlike an actual sporting event, of course, the outcome is engineered, which doesn’t make the golf scenes less suspenseful or exciting for the viewer. — Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for suspenseful
  1. enthralling
  2. engrossing
  3. riveting
  4. charming
  5. captivating
  6. intriguing
  7. gripping
  8. interesting
Adjective
  • Richet turns the ship into an enthralling character, with its pipes and catwalks and tunnels and tubes, some of which become weaponry.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Cameron’s enthralling action epic still looks stunning four decades later.
    — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of enthralling
Adjective
  • In 2022, the author of this engrossing investigation travelled to Lagos, Nigeria, to find the person who, years earlier, ensnared his mother in an online romance scam.
    — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026
  • The most engrossing aspect of the relationship is that it’s maintained tension.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 24 June 2026
Definition of engrossing
Adjective
  • Thematically, though, the late swerve is fully all of a piece with Oren’s riveting exploration of the nature of desire, and how that can reframe our relationship to the natural world around us.
    — Josh Slater-Williams, IndieWire, 11 Aug. 2026
  • With riveting storytelling, the novel could never have been authored by AI.
    — Monitor reviewers, Christian Science Monitor, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of riveting
Adjective
  • The house is about nine miles from Shrewsbury, putting it close to the charming market town’s restaurants and shops, with London reachable in under three hours.
    — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Cook will play Elias Clarke, who is handsome, charming, and quietly persuasive.
    — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of charming
Adjective
  • Where the story goes from there should be left for audiences to discover on their own, but thanks to Mirren’s captivating and playful performance as Highsmith, A Talent For Murder becomes an unexpected way to honor her legacy.
    — Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Something can be beloved, complex, and captivating and still not be a planet; there is liberation—redemption, even—in realizing this world remains undiminished.
    — Mike Brown, Scientific American, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of captivating
Adjective
  • Although not quite as polished on the racial politics front, Lanterns’s third episode is no less intriguing, as an hour of television dedicated not only to answering pressing questions but fleshing out its lead character in disturbing ways.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Belton is an intriguing player, but Cisco should also see action in certain packages.
    — Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of intriguing
Adjective
  • MobLand is a gripping crime drama with an all-star cast, featuring Tom Hardy as Harry Da Souza, a problem solver for London's Harrigan crime family.
    — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Like Seven and Panic Room, Zodiac is a gripping, grimy crime story filled with intense performances and slick cinematography.
    — Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of gripping
Adjective
  • Coach John Harbaugh made the interesting decision Friday night to sit Dart and a number of other starters for a second straight preseason game.
    — Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Cartoonists on Dolly Parton's life and legacy Join 350,000+ subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
    — The Week US, TheWeek, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of interesting

Browse Nearby Words

suspense
suspenseful
suspenseless
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Cite this Entry

“Suspenseful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suspenseful. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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