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 Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers played in a nail-biter last weekend, which ended in a 40-40 tie.
—
Anne Erickson, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Livvy Dunne watched a nail-biter in Cincinnati!
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2025
After starter Yu Darvish was pulled in the top of the sixth, standout relievers Jeremiah Estrada and Adrian Morejon stumbled in succession, turning a laugher into a bit of a nail-biter.
—Dennis Lin, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
As spooky season approaches, there’s no better time than now to revisit these classic nail-biters—and revel in their impeccable period styling.
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 13 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nail-biter
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Anne Erickson, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Livvy Dunne watched a nail-biter in Cincinnati!
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2025
After starter Yu Darvish was pulled in the top of the sixth, standout relievers Jeremiah Estrada and Adrian Morejon stumbled in succession, turning a laugher into a bit of a nail-biter.
—Dennis Lin, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
As spooky season approaches, there’s no better time than now to revisit these classic nail-biters—and revel in their impeccable period styling.
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 13 Sep. 2025
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 10 Oct. 2025.
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