cliff-hanger

noun

cliff-hang·​er ˈklif-ˌhaŋ-ər How to pronounce cliff-hanger (audio)
Synonyms of cliff-hangernext
1
: an adventure serial or melodrama
especially : one presented in installments each ending in suspense
2
: a contest whose outcome is in doubt up to the very end
broadly : a suspenseful situation
cliff-hanging
ˈklif-ˌhaŋ-iŋ How to pronounce cliff-hanger (audio)
adjective

Synonyms

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Examples of cliff-hanger in a Sentence

finally, a Super Bowl game that turned out to be a real cliff-hanger
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Of course, that’s no surprise to anyone who has seen Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, which, No. 1, absolutely rocks, and, No. 2 (no spoilers), ends on quite the cliff-hanger. — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 31 Mar. 2025 Things go very, very wrong at a Valentine’s Day party, which leads to the most intense cliff-hanger of the series. — Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1931, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cliff-hanger was circa 1931

Rhymes for cliff-hanger

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Browse Nearby Words

cliff-hang
cliff-hanger
cliffless
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Cite this Entry

“Cliff-hanger.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cliff-hanger. Accessed 26 Apr. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on cliff-hanger

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cliff-hanger

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