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
Jokic ended up attempting 11 of his team’s 35 free throws in Monday’s nail-biter at Utah.
—
Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 5 Mar. 2026
The Gophers won the tournament, anyway, but their biggest nail-biter was an overtime victory over Gonzaga in a quarterfinal at Williams Arena.
—John Shipley, Twin Cities, 5 Mar. 2026
Kathryn Palmer here, with the latest on last night's nail-biter elections and developments in the war with Iran.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 4 Mar. 2026
The Knights are coming off a nail-biter against Utah, where point guard Themus Fulks nailed two free throws with 3 seconds left for a 73-71 win over the Utes.
—Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Feb. 2026
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Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 5 Mar. 2026
The Gophers won the tournament, anyway, but their biggest nail-biter was an overtime victory over Gonzaga in a quarterfinal at Williams Arena.
—John Shipley, Twin Cities, 5 Mar. 2026
Kathryn Palmer here, with the latest on last night's nail-biter elections and developments in the war with Iran.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 4 Mar. 2026
The Knights are coming off a nail-biter against Utah, where point guard Themus Fulks nailed two free throws with 3 seconds left for a 73-71 win over the Utes.
—Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Feb. 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 Mar. 2026.
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