SUSPENSE: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for SUSPENSE?

Need another word that means the same as “suspense”? Find 23 synonyms and 30 related words for “suspense” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Suspense” are: with bated breath, on edge, keyed up, tension, uncertainty, doubt, doubtfulness, anticipation, expectation, expectancy, excitement, anxiety, nervousness, apprehension, apprehensiveness, strain, suspension, a state of suspension, a state of dormancy, a state of latency, a state of uncertainty, remission, reserve

Suspense as a Noun

Definitions of "Suspense" as a noun

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “suspense” as a noun can have the following definitions:

• Excited anticipation of an approaching climax.
• A state or feeling of excited or anxious uncertainty about what may happen.
• An uncertain cognitive state.
• A quality in a work of fiction that arouses excited expectation or uncertainty about what may happen.
• The temporary cessation or suspension of something.
• Apprehension about what is going to happen.

Synonyms of "Suspense" as a noun (23 Words)

a state of dormancy	The way something is with respect to its main attributes.
a state of latency	A politically organized body of people under a single government.
a state of suspension	The federal department in the United States that sets and maintains foreign policies.
a state of uncertainty	A politically organized body of people under a single government.
anticipation	Something expected (as on the basis of a norm. Her eyes sparkled with anticipation.
anxiety	A feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome. The housekeeper s eager anxiety to please.
apprehension	Painful expectation. He felt sick with apprehension.
apprehensiveness	Fearful expectation or anticipation.
doubt	The state of being unsure of something. They had doubts that they would ever win.
doubtfulness	The state of being unsure of something.
excitement	Something that arouses a feeling of excitement. The excitements of the previous night.
expectancy	The state of thinking or hoping that something, especially something good, will happen. They waited with an air of expectancy.
expectation	A strong belief that something will happen or be the case. I sat down in expectation of a feast of nostalgia.
keyed up	United States lawyer and poet who wrote a poem after witnessing the British attack on Baltimore during the War of 1812; the poem was later set to music and entitled `The Star-Spangled Banner’ (1779-1843.
nervousness	The quality or state of being nervous. There was a trace of nervousness in his voice.
on edge	A slight competitive advantage.
remission	A payment of money sent to a person in another place. For every two days they work the prisoners earn one day s remission of their sentence.
reserve	A district that is reserved for particular purpose. Playing in the first team has been a big step up after the reserves.
strain	A severe or excessive demand on the strength, resources, or abilities of someone or something. The telltale signs of nervous strain.
suspension	Temporary cessation or suspension. A suspension of maize starch in arachis oil.
tension	The physical condition of being stretched or strained. The basic tension between freedom and control.
uncertainty	Something that is uncertain or that causes one to feel uncertain. Times of uncertainty and danger.
with bated breath	A slight movement of the air.

Usage Examples of "Suspense" as a noun

• The play kept the audience in suspense.
• Come on, Fran, don't keep me in suspense!
• A tale of mystery and suspense.
• The matter remained in suspense for several years.

Associations of "Suspense" (30 Words)

ambiguous	Open to more than one interpretation; not having one obvious meaning. An ambiguous situation with no frame of reference.
boggle	(of a person) hesitate to do or accept. The inflated salary of a star boggles the mind.
confusion	A situation of panic or disorder. The confusion of tongues at the Tower of Babel.
doubt	Consider unlikely or have doubts about. I doubt that she will accept his proposal of marriage.
dubious	Open to doubt or suspicion. Dubious about agreeing to go.
excitement	Something that arouses a feeling of excitement. His face was flushed with excitement and his hands trembled.
feel	Grope or feel in search of something. I cry at everything even the types of movies you wouldn t expect to give you all the feels.
fraught	Causing or affected by anxiety or stress. There was a fraught silence.
genre	A kind of literary or artistic work. Genre scenes.
hesitate	Pause in indecision before saying or doing something. He hesitated to spoil the mood by being inquisitive.
hesitatingly	With hesitation; in a hesitant manner.
hesitation	Indecision in speech or action. There was a hesitation in his speech.
indecision	Doubt concerning two or more possible alternatives or courses of action. A gesture of indecision.
indecisive	Not definitely settling something. A long and indecisive war.
indeterminate	(of a shoot) not having all the axes terminating in a flower bud and so potentially of indefinite length. The influence of environment is indeterminate.
insecurity	The anxiety you experience when you feel vulnerable and insecure. Growing job insecurity.
irresolution	Hesitancy; uncertainty. A moment of irresolution.
misgiving	Uneasiness about the fitness of an action. I felt a sense of misgiving at the prospect of retirement.
psychological	Of, affecting, or arising in the mind; related to the mental and emotional state of a person. Psychological warfare.
puzzling	Lacking clarity of meaning; causing confusion or perplexity. A puzzling statement.
suspicious	Not as expected. He was suspicious of her motives.
taut	(especially of muscles or nerves) tense; not relaxed. Taut sails.
thrill	Cause to be thrilled by some perceptual input. To ride a winner is always a thrill.
thriller	A very exciting contest or experience. A seven goal thriller.
uncertain	Not able to be relied on; not known or definite. An uncertain future.
uncertainty	The state of being uncertain. The uncertainty of the outcome.
unclear	Poorly stated or described. Users are still unclear about what middleware does.
undecided	Characterized by indecision. The jury remained undecided.
vacillating	Wavering between different opinions or actions; irresolute. He was accused of vacillating leadership.
vibrate	Shake, quiver, or throb; move back and forth rapidly, usually in an uncontrolled manner. The cabin started to vibrate.