thrill-seeker: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal, journalistic
Quick answer
What does “thrill-seeker” mean?
A person who enjoys taking part in exciting or dangerous activities.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who enjoys taking part in exciting or dangerous activities.
Someone who actively pursues novel, intense, or high-risk experiences to satisfy a need for excitement, sometimes used figuratively for those who enjoy high-stakes situations in business or other fields.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Spelling: 'thrill-seeker' (with hyphen) is standard in both, though 'thrillseeker' (closed) is also occasionally seen.
Connotations
Slightly more likely to be associated with extreme sports in UK usage, while US usage may extend more readily to business or financial risk-takers.
Frequency
Slightly more common in US media, but well-established in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “thrill-seeker” in a Sentence
[thrill-seeker] + [verb: loves/enjoys/ seeks] + [dangerous activity][article] + [adjective] + thrill-seekerVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “thrill-seeker” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She thrill-seeks every weekend, usually by free climbing.
- He's been thrill-seeking since uni.
American English
- They go thrill-seeking out west every summer.
- He admitted to thrill-seeking on Wall Street.
adverb
British English
- He lived thrill-seekingly, with little regard for safety. (rare)
American English
- She approached the market thrill-seekingly. (very rare/awkward)
adjective
British English
- His thrill-seeking behaviour worries his mum.
- A thrill-seeking mentality is common among base jumpers.
American English
- Her thrill-seeking nature led her to become a stunt double.
- The company has a thrill-seeking investment strategy.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used figuratively for investors or entrepreneurs who take high-stakes risks.
Academic
Rare; may appear in psychology/sociology papers on risk-taking behavior.
Everyday
Common in conversation about hobbies, holidays, and personality types.
Technical
Not a technical term.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “thrill-seeker”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “thrill-seeker”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “thrill-seeker”
- Misspelling as 'trill-seeker'.
- Using as a formal psychological term.
- Confusing with 'thrill-chaser' (less common).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is context-dependent. It can be neutral or admiring when discussing hobbies, but can imply recklessness or irresponsibility in contexts like parenting or safety-critical jobs.
An 'adventurer' suggests exploration and novel experiences, which may or may not be dangerous. A 'thrill-seeker' specifically emphasizes the pursuit of the intense, excited feeling (the 'thrill') that often comes from danger or high speed.
Yes, figuratively. It can describe an investor, entrepreneur, or trader who habitually takes very high financial risks for the excitement and potential high reward.
The standard spelling in both UK and US English is with a hyphen: 'thrill-seeker'. The closed form 'thrillseeker' is occasionally seen but is less common.
A person who enjoys taking part in exciting or dangerous activities.
Thrill-seeker is usually informal, journalistic in register.
Thrill-seeker: in British English it is pronounced /ˈθrɪl ˌsiː.kə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈθrɪl ˌsiː.kɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Live life on the edge”
- “Cheat death”
- “Have a death wish (negative)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'SEEKS a THRILL' = thrill-seeker.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A JOURNEY WITH DANGEROUS/EXCITING PATHS; EXCITEMENT IS A DRUG (e.g., 'adrenaline junkie').
Practice
Quiz
Which phrase is LEAST likely to describe a 'thrill-seeker'?