suspense
noun
sus·pense
sə-ˈspen(t)s 
1
: the state of being suspended : suspension
2
a
: mental uncertainty : anxiety
b
: pleasant excitement as to a decision or outcome
a novel of suspense
3
: the state or character of being undecided or doubtful : indecisiveness
Examples of suspense in a Sentence
I can't bear the suspense.
The suspense builds as the story progresses.
Alfred Hitchcock was a master of suspense.
The movie is a suspense thriller.
Recent Examples on the Web
Beyond the blood and suspense, however, Jaws was a deeply psychological film.
—
Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
Echo Valley feels in need of an additional twist, or one fewer — to either commit to being foremost a drama about addiction or to go harder into the suspense, rather than ending up an awkward hybrid of the two.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 12 June 2025
Straw, the psychological crime film from writer-director Tyler Perry, blends emotional turmoil with sharp suspense to deliver one of Netflix's most popular thrillers of the year so far.
—EW.com, 10 June 2025
The Assembly Appropriations Committee killed 35% of the 666 measures on its suspense file, similar to last year.
—Calmatters, Mercury News, 27 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for suspense
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Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
Echo Valley feels in need of an additional twist, or one fewer — to either commit to being foremost a drama about addiction or to go harder into the suspense, rather than ending up an awkward hybrid of the two.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 12 June 2025
Straw, the psychological crime film from writer-director Tyler Perry, blends emotional turmoil with sharp suspense to deliver one of Netflix's most popular thrillers of the year so far.
—EW.com, 10 June 2025
The Assembly Appropriations Committee killed 35% of the 666 measures on its suspense file, similar to last year.
—Calmatters, Mercury News, 27 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for suspense
Cite this Entry
“Suspense.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/suspense. Accessed 23 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
suspense
noun
sus·pense
sə-ˈspen(t)s
1
: the state of being suspended : suspension
2
a
: mental uncertainty : anxiety
b
: pleasant excitement caused by wondering what will happen
a novel of suspense
3
: the state of being undecided
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