cliff-hanger

noun

ˈklif-ˌhaŋ-ər How to pronounce cliff-hanger (audio)
Definition of cliff-hangernext
as in thriller
something (as a close contest) that induces much suspense as to its outcome finally, a Super Bowl game that turned out to be a real cliff-hanger

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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 cliff-hanger The latest cliff-hanger, which saw Netflix ceding the bidding war to Paramount late Thursday, had Hollywood and the media worlds agog. — Rebecca Keegan, NBC news, 27 Feb. 2026 Angus Cloud, who played drug dealer Fezco, died after season two; the second season ended on a major cliff-hanger involving his character. — Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 17 Oct. 2025 That film ended on a massive cliff-hanger, meaning a lot of people have been waiting to see what happens after Peter Parker makes the difficult decision to erase his identity from the world. — Brent Lang, Variety, 5 Jan. 2026 And many have speculated that Netflix’s vast trove of data informs certain narrative habits on its shows (cliff-hangers to encourage bingeing, for example, and frequent restating of plot points to engage viewers distracted by their phones). — Geoff Colvin, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cliff-hanger
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cliff-hanger
thriller
Noun
  • Readers can’t seem to get enough of thrillers and mysteries, and there’s no shortage of writers eager to deliver them.
    — Suzanne Van Atten, AJC.com, 5 July 2026
  • Obsession, the blockbuster horror thriller starring Inde Navarrette and Michael Johnston, hit another major box office milestone over the weekend.
    — Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of thriller

Browse Nearby Words

cliff dwellers
cliff-hanger
cliff-hangers
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Cite this Entry

“Cliff-hanger.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cliff-hanger. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on cliff-hanger

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cliff-hanger

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