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Frisson and Shiver
A chill down one’s spine isn’t always a sensation of fear or suspense. As Daniel Marenco writes, “What is most exciting about literature is how much it surprises us and makes us fall in love. Poetry especially has this gift, the gift of provoking in us a frisson, a shiver, this capacity, like a bee, to put honey on the tip of our tongue, provoking that pleasant sensation of feeling and perceiving.” His relating of frisson and shiver is apt given that frisson comes from the French word for “shiver.” (Those familiar with shivering will note that it’s also apt that frisson traces back to ultimately to Late Latin frīgēre “to be cold” or frīgēscere “to become cold.”) A frisson can be compared to a thrill or a rush, as it refers to a brief moment of emotional excitement, as in “a frisson of surprise.”
Synonyms
Examples of frisson in a Sentence
Asher Price, Axios, 16 Oct. 2024
Like Prince before them, Tumor shines up each element of their production to such a precise degree that the whole recording thrums with erotic frisson: the gyrating pull of perfect individuals in motion.
—Pitchfork, 1 Oct. 2024
Hotel-adjacent spaces, meanwhile, act as on-property halo destinations and add a handy frisson of exclusivity.
—Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 7 Sep. 2024
At the dinner, Benedict detects palpable chemistry between Lady Tilley and Paul, but also shares an undeniable frisson with Paul himself.
—Cady Lang, TIME, 13 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for frisson 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'frisson.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Frisson.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frisson. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.
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