Words To Create Suspense

verb past tense and past participle of 'bate'; to moderate or restrain; to lessen the force or intensity of

adjective reduced or moderated; restrained; lessened in force or intensity

• The atmosphere in the courtroom was filled with bated breath as the verdict was about to be announced.
• We all waited with bated breath to see who would win the game.
• I was so nervous, my heart was bated the entire time.
• The tension in the room was palpable, with emotions bated and ready to explode.

adjective a word that describes or gives more information about a noun or pronoun; in this case, 'menacing' describes something that is threatening or suggesting danger

• The menacing storm clouds loomed overhead, threatening to unleash a downpour at any moment.
• I saw a menacing looking guy hanging around the corner.
• That dude had a real menacing vibe about him.
• The silence in the room was so thick and menacing, you could cut it with a knife.

adjective giving the impression that something bad or unpleasant is going to happen; threatening; inauspicious

• The dark clouds gathering on the horizon cast an ominous shadow over the town.
• I got a bad feeling about this, something feels ominous.
• That new guy gives me the creeps, he's so ominous.
• The silence in the room was so thick, it felt almost ominous.

noun a frame on which cloth is stretched for drying or finishing

preposition a word governing, and usually preceding, a noun or pronoun and expressing a relation to another word or element in the clause

• The investors were on tenterhooks waiting for the quarterly financial report.
• I'm on tenterhooks waiting to hear back about my job application.
• I was on tenterhooks waiting for my crush to text me back.
• The whole town was on tenterhooks as they awaited the results of the election.