thriller
gb/θɹˈɪlɚ/ us/θɹˈɪlɚ/
B2
English
~ 9700
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
entity
1
suspenseful book, film, or show
A book, movie, or TV show that is very exciting and full of danger or mystery, and keeps you wanting to know what happens next.
Usage pattern:
a/an [adjective] thriller about [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse “thriller” with “horror”. A thriller focuses mainly on suspense and tension, often with crime or mystery, while a horror story focuses on fear and shock, often with monsters or supernatural elements. Also note the correct article: “a thriller”, not “an thriller”.
Synonyms
suspense story (General term; less specific about being a marketed genre and can be any suspenseful narrative.)
|
crime drama (Focuses more on crime and investigation; not always as fast-paced or tightly focused on suspense as a thriller.)
Antonyms
bore (Informal; refers to something very dull or uninteresting, the opposite of an exciting thriller.)
Collocations
psychological thriller
|crime thriller
|action thriller
|gripping thriller
|best-selling thriller
|thriller novel
Themes
entertainment
|media
|literature
|arts_entertainment
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She stayed up all night finishing the political thriller she’d started on the plane.
- The film is a tense psychological thriller set in a small coastal town.
- His latest crime thriller has already been adapted for television.
- I prefer light comedies to dark, violent thrillers.
- The author made his name with a best‑selling legal thriller in the 1990s.
Learner examples
- That movie was a very exciting thriller.
- I am reading a new thriller about a missing child.
- She likes to watch crime thrillers on Friday nights.
- The author wrote a thriller about a bank robbery.
- This thriller keeps you guessing until the end.
Noun
C1
event
2
very exciting event or game
A game or event that is very exciting to watch because you do not know who will win until the end.
Usage pattern:
a [sport] thriller with [result/details]
Common mistake:
Learners may think “thriller” can be used for any happy or fun event. It is normally used when the event is tense, very exciting, and often very close, especially in sports. Do not say *“a birthday thriller”* for a nice party; say “a great party” instead.
Synonyms
nail‑biter (Informal; strongly emphasizes extreme tension and nervousness throughout the event.)
Antonyms
walkover (Refers to an easy, one‑sided win with little tension, the opposite of a close, exciting thriller.)
Collocations
five‑set thriller
|last‑minute thriller
|cup final thriller
|overtime thriller
|penalty shootout thriller
|edge‑of‑your‑seat thriller
Themes
sports
|entertainment
|arts_entertainment
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The World Cup final turned into a real thriller, with three goals in the last ten minutes.
- Fans were treated to a five‑set thriller that lasted almost four hours.
- Last night’s basketball game was a thriller that went into double overtime.
- The derby was no thriller, ending in a dull 0–0 draw.
- Commentators called the match an absolute thriller from start to finish.
Learner examples
- The tennis match was a real thriller.
- We watched a football thriller on TV last night.
- The game was a thriller with a goal in the final minute.
- That race was a thriller because the winner changed many times.
- The fans enjoyed the thriller and cheered very loudly.
Grammar
Dictionary form
thriller
IPA
GB/θɹˈɪlɚ/
US/θɹˈɪlɚ/
Syllables & stress
thrill - er (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (thrill)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: thriller
- Plural: thrillers
Word family
Forms
thrillers
noun
Core family
Advanced or less common
thrillingly
adverb
Expressions
action thriller
1/ˈækʃən θɹˈɪlɚ/
fixed phrase
thriller with a lot of action
A thriller with many fights, chases, and other exciting action scenes.
Examples
- The movie is a pure action thriller with almost nonstop car chases.
- If you like fast‑paced action thrillers, you’ll enjoy this film.
crime thriller
1/kɹˈaɪm θɹˈɪlɚ/
fixed phrase
thriller about crime and police
A thriller about a crime, usually showing the criminal, the police, or a detective trying to catch them.
Examples
- The series is a gritty crime thriller set in 1980s New York.
- He prefers crime thrillers to romantic comedies.
erotic thriller
1/ɪɹˈɑtɪk θɹˈɪlɚ/
fixed phrase
thriller with strong sexual themes
A thriller that mixes strong sexual relationships with danger or crime.
Examples
- The 1990s saw a boom in erotic thrillers aimed at adult audiences.
- Some viewers found the erotic thriller too explicit and disturbing.
legal thriller
1/lˈiɡəl θɹˈɪlɚ/
fixed phrase
thriller about law and courts
A thriller about lawyers, court cases, and the legal system.
Examples
- She’s reading a legal thriller set in a big New York law firm.
- The author is best known for his courtroom‑based legal thrillers.
political thriller
1/pəlˈɪtɪkəl θɹˈɪlɚ/
fixed phrase
thriller about politics and power
A thriller about politics, government, or power, often including secrets, corruption, or spying.
Examples
- The film is a fast‑paced political thriller about a coup in a small country.
- I love political thrillers that show behind‑the‑scenes deals in government.
psychological thriller
1/sˌaɪkəlˈɑd͡ʒɪkəl θɹˈɪlɚ/
fixed phrase
thriller focused on the mind
A thriller where the main tension comes from what is happening inside people’s minds, not from action or violence.
Examples
- Her new novel is a psychological thriller about a woman who doubts her own memories.
- The director is famous for slow‑burn psychological thrillers with unexpected endings.
spy thriller
1/spˈaɪ θɹˈɪlɚ/
fixed phrase
thriller about spies and espionage
A thriller about spies, secret agents, and secret government work.
Examples
- He made his name writing Cold War spy thrillers.
- The novel is a classic spy thriller with double agents and secret codes.
techno-thriller
1/tˈɛknoʊ θɹˈɪlɚ/
fixed phrase
thriller centered on technology
A thriller where computers, machines, or other advanced technology are very important to the story.
Examples
- The book is a gripping techno‑thriller about a global cyberattack.
- He enjoys techno‑thrillers that explain real scientific ideas.