The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word BATED which also is the latest solution we found used in New York Times in 2023.
Held in suspense crossword clue answers
Here's a list of possible crossword answers ranked by the most likely to least likely.
| Answer | Likelyness | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| BATED | 100 % | 5 |
Why may BATED be the right solution?
The word "bated" is a shortened form of "abated," meaning to lessen or reduce. In the phrase "held in suspense," the word "bated" means to hold one's breath or pause in anticipation, which creates a sense of suspense.
Words with a meaning similar to the clue: Held in suspense
These words may or may not be a possible solution to this crosswords clue.- hang
- cliff-hanger
- pause
- pending
- poise
- poised
- suspend
- suspension
- satisfy
- tension
- anxious
- bate
Crossword Answer definitions
BATED verb- To reduce the force of something; to abate.
- To restrain, usually with the sense of being in anticipation
- (sometimes figurative) To cut off, remove, take away.
- To leave out, except, bar.
- To waste away.
- To deprive of.
- To lessen by retrenching, deducting, or reducing; to abate; to beat down; to lower.
- To allow by way of abatement or deduction.
- To contend or strive with blows or arguments.
- Of a falcon: To flap the wings vigorously; to bait.
- To soak leather so as to remove chemicals used in tanning; to steep in bate.
- To masturbate.
- Reduced; lowered; restrained
More crossword clues leading to the same solutions
Here's a few more crossword clues - all leading to the identical solution