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Suspenseful: meaning, definitions and examples

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suspenseful

 

[ səˈspɛnsfəl ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

emotional tone

Suspenseful describes a state or feeling that evokes anticipation and excitement, often characterized by uncertainty or tension about what may happen next. It is commonly used in the context of literature, film, and storytelling, where the audience is kept on the edge of their seats, eagerly awaiting the resolution of a story. This feeling can stem from various elements, such as plot twists, cliffhangers, or unresolved conflicts that heighten the stakes within the narrative.

Synonyms

anxious, exciting, tense, thrilling

Examples of usage

  • The suspenseful movie kept me guessing until the very end.
  • Her suspenseful voice added to the excitement of the story.
  • The suspenseful atmosphere in the book made it hard to put down.

Translations

Translations of the word "suspenseful" in other languages:

🇵🇹 suspenseful

🇮🇳 सस्पेंसफुल

🇩🇪 spannend

🇮🇩 menegangkan

🇺🇦 напружений

🇵🇱 napięty

🇯🇵 サスペンスのある

🇫🇷 suspense

🇪🇸 suspense

🇹🇷 gerilimli

🇰🇷 서스펜스 있는

🇸🇦 مثير للتشويق

🇨🇿 napínavý

🇸🇰 napínavý

🇨🇳 悬念的

🇸🇮 napet

🇮🇸 spennandi

🇰🇿 саспенс

🇬🇪 სასპენსური

🇦🇿 suspense

🇲🇽 suspense

Etymology

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.

Word Frequency Rank

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.