The present invention provides a thermal recording material comprising a support and at least a thermal recording layer disposed on the support, wherein at least one of the thermal recording layer includes, together with an electron donating colorless dye, at least an electron accepting compound represented by the following general formula (1). R¹ and R² each independently represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group; and Ar is represented by the following general formula (2). In the general formula (2), R¹¹ to R¹⁴ each independently represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group with 1 to 4 carbon atoms or an aryl group. ##STR1## ##STR2##