thrilling 1 of 2

adjective

ˈthri-liŋ How to pronounce thrilling (audio)
Definition of thrillingnext
as in exciting
causing great emotional or mental stimulation a thrilling adventure movie

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

thrilling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of thrill
as in electrifying
to cause a pleasurable stimulation of the feelings of I was thrilled to hear that you got the promotion that you'd been so desperately wanting

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 thrilling
Adjective
The multi-hyphenate star — who acts, sings, hosts a podcast and more, all while being a single mom — tells PEOPLE in an exclusive interview what parts of her career are most thrilling to her nowadays. — Nicholas Rice, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2026 Its basement level, though, has a modern history all its own, where an improbable number of right-moment, right-time restaurants have operated since early last decade — including its latest, exceptionally thrilling occupant. — Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026
Verb
Made in Korea, Disney+‘s darkly thrilling K-drama spy series, came to a simmering conclusion on Wednesday as stars Hyun Bin and Jung Woo-sung faced off for one final game of cat and mouse. — Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 24 Sep. 2026 Making the occasion even sweeter, the Bills pulled off a thrilling 41-31 win against the Lions, with quarterback Josh Allen delivering five touchdowns (three passing and two rushing). — Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 21 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for thrilling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thrilling
  1. exciting
  2. electrifying
  3. breathtaking
  4. interesting
  5. intriguing
Adjective
  • Reminiscent in some ways of Sidney Lumet’s landmark first feature, 12 Angry Men, McCarthy finds an exciting way to shoot this tight room without ever being rote.
    — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Nothing terribly exciting is happening inside this three-bedroom, but there’s lots of light and a respectable amount of space, and the beach is just a few minutes away.
    — Nora Deligter, Curbed, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of exciting
Verb
  • After its electrifying premiere, there were quickly reports that A24 is focused on a Best Picture campaign for the film in large part because the Academy’s fusty Documentary Branch may opt not to nominate it for Best Documentary Feature.
    — Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The Minnesota Lynx's electrifying guard, Olivia Miles, has been named the Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year.
    — Cole Premo, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of electrifying
Adjective
  • The rise since the era of zero rates has been breathtaking, with the share of income devoted to interest payments up by two-thirds.
    — Harvey Stober, CNBC, 4 Oct. 2026
  • And residents think of it as just another part of island life — a minor inconvenience for small-town community charm, breathtaking views and a break from the hustle of much of the rest of Southern California.
    — Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of breathtaking
Adjective
  • The pressure is on the Dodgers, and if the Braves can steal a game in Los Angeles, things could get interesting.
    — AJC.com, AJC.com, 3 Oct. 2026
  • There are also some interesting features of the actual delivery of the first two as well.
    — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of interesting
Adjective
  • The British singer-songwriter and producer began her career as an elusive internet figure with a skill for crafting intriguing earworms.
    — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2026
  • That’s why Chicago AF events focus on piquing adults’ interest with intriguing reasons to engage in companionship and activity.
    — Marie Wilson, Chicago Tribune, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of intriguing

Browse Nearby Words

thrillers
thrilling
thrills
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Thrilling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thrilling. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All