nail-biter

noun

nail-bit·​er ˈnāl-ˌbī-tər How to pronounce nail-biter (audio)
: something (such as a close contest) that induces tension or anxiety
nail-biting adjective

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 Ron DeSantis has reshaped the political landscape in Florida since his nail-biter win over Andrew Gillum in the 2018 governor’s race. A. G. Gancarski, National Review, 10 July 2024 November’s election looks to be a nail-biter at all levels, but not all close races are created equal. Henry Olsen, National Review, 30 June 2024 Watch video of the Panthers’ win and celebration below: Monday’s face-off between the Panthers and Oilers brought this year’s Stanley Cup Final to a nail-biter of a conclusion. Rebecca Iannucci, TVLine, 24 June 2024 New York native Danny Garcia edged Jacobs and North Carolina's Savannah Miller in what appeared to be a nail-biter of a final dual between Garcia and Jacobs. Emmett Prosser, Journal Sentinel, 19 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for nail-biter 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'nail-biter.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nail-biter was in 1950

Dictionary Entries Near nail-biter

Cite this Entry

“Nail-biter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nail-biter. Accessed 27 Jul. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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