nail-biter
noun
nail-bit·er
ˈnāl-ˌbī-tər 
: something (such as a close contest) that induces tension or anxiety
Examples of nail-biter in a Sentence
a presidential election that was one of the great nail-biters of all time
Recent Examples on the Web
The game was a nail-biter, with the Knicks trailing the Spurs by nearly 30 points at the first half, only to come back in the second half and win in the last minute of the game by one point.
—
Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 12 June 2026
Not every matchup has been a nail-biter.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 June 2026
This is when the tournament starts to become a real nail-biter.
—Juliana Kim, NPR, 10 June 2026
Equally impressive was the nail-biter at Riviera, where there was a four-way tie for the lead at various points in the final round.
—ABC News, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for nail-biter
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Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 12 June 2026
Not every matchup has been a nail-biter.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 June 2026
This is when the tournament starts to become a real nail-biter.
—Juliana Kim, NPR, 10 June 2026
Equally impressive was the nail-biter at Riviera, where there was a four-way tie for the lead at various points in the final round.
—ABC News, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for nail-biter
Cite this Entry
“Nail-biter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nail-biter. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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