Suspenseful Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

Literature

• Suspenseful writing is a technique used by authors to keep readers glued to the pages, often using cliffhangers.
• Classic suspense novels like 'Dracula' by Bram Stoker keep readers anxious and intrigued throughout the story.

Film & Media

• Several films, like 'Psycho' and 'Jaws,' expertly use suspenseful techniques to create tension, keeping audiences at the edge of their seats.
• Hitchcock, a master of suspense, understood how to build tension through music and editing, making moments more impactful.

Psychology

• The feeling of suspense activates the brain’s reward system, as uncertainty can both engage and excite us.
• Studies show that suspenseful experiences can increase levels of adrenaline, which heightens our awareness and emotional responses.

Cultural References

• In many cultures, suspenseful stories are preferred in oral traditions, as they engage audiences and motivate storytelling.
• Great suspenseful works often reflect societal fears and anxieties, showing what people found thrilling or terrifying at the time.

Music

• Suspenseful music often uses rising notes and tension-building chords to make listeners feel apprehensive.
• Film scores by composers like John Williams and Hans Zimmer brilliantly incorporate suspenseful elements to enhance narratives.

The word 'suspenseful' is formed from the root 'suspense,' which originated in the early 17th century. The term 'suspense' comes from the Latin 'suspendere,' meaning 'to hang up' or 'to hold back.' It reflects a sense of temporary cessation, where events are paused, providing an emotional lift that anticipates future developments. Over the years, 'suspense' evolved within the English language to embody a sense of uncertainty related to outcomes. By the mid-19th century, the adjective 'suspenseful' began to gain prominence, allowing for a more descriptive form to convey the same emotional intensity associated with narrative devices in literature and film. The connotation of tension and anxiety that accompanies 'suspenseful' has made it an enduring term in discussing genres like horror, thriller, and drama, where engaging the audience's emotions is crucial.

This word's position of #34,010 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.

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• 34007 jiggling
• 34008 disfranchise
• 34009 auctioning
• 34010 suspenseful
• 34011 dolefully
• 34012 tangibly
• 34013 filched
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