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
Every shark movie owes a debt to the sacred mother Jaws, but the thriller about bitey creatures spreading carnage and mayhem in bad weather that Thrash most resembles is Alexandre Aja’s superior nail-biter, Crawl.
—
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 10 Apr. 2026
The New York Knicks’ starting lineup may have been staring at the final straw that could break the camel’s back late in Monday’s nail-biter against the Atlanta Hawks.
—James L. Edwards Iii, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2026
While UConn got to this stage with a nail-biter, the other three teams haven’t really been tested yet in the tournament.
—Josh Dubow, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026
While UConn got to this stage with a nail-biter, the other three teams haven't really been tested yet in the tournament.
—ABC News, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nail-biter
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David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 10 Apr. 2026
The New York Knicks’ starting lineup may have been staring at the final straw that could break the camel’s back late in Monday’s nail-biter against the Atlanta Hawks.
—James L. Edwards Iii, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2026
While UConn got to this stage with a nail-biter, the other three teams haven’t really been tested yet in the tournament.
—Josh Dubow, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026
While UConn got to this stage with a nail-biter, the other three teams haven't really been tested yet in the tournament.
—ABC News, 31 Mar. 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 15 Apr. 2026.
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