white-knuckle
adjective
white-knuck·le
ˈ(h)wīt-ˈnə-kəl 
variants
or less commonly white-knuckled
: marked by, causing, or experiencing tense nervousness
a white-knuckle ride on a roller coaster
a white-knuckle passenger
white-knuckler
noun
plural white-knucklers
The 65-mile speedway connecting Vancouver and the mountain town of Whistler was a white-knuckler for decades.
—
Christian DeBenedetti
Christian DeBenedetti
Examples of white-knuckle in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In the first trailer for white-knuckle thriller The Lost Bus, a wayward bus driver (Matthew McConaughey) answers a distress call for a classroom of kids trapped in Ponderosa Elementary School.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 29 July 2025
The 62-year-old IBM manager doesn’t miss the white-knuckle driving through narrow passageways in I-25 construction zones.
—John Aguilar, Denver Post, 28 July 2025
After debuting in 2012, NBC's Chicago Fire is currently gearing up for its 14th season of sooty firefights, white-knuckle rescue missions, and steamy romances.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 22 July 2025
How to Survive a Shark Attack This white-knuckle show provides practical knowledge for every ocean swimmer and Jaws fan’s ultimate fear: facing down an apex predator in a real-life shark attack.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 20 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for white-knuckle
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 29 July 2025
The 62-year-old IBM manager doesn’t miss the white-knuckle driving through narrow passageways in I-25 construction zones.
—John Aguilar, Denver Post, 28 July 2025
After debuting in 2012, NBC's Chicago Fire is currently gearing up for its 14th season of sooty firefights, white-knuckle rescue missions, and steamy romances.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 22 July 2025
How to Survive a Shark Attack This white-knuckle show provides practical knowledge for every ocean swimmer and Jaws fan’s ultimate fear: facing down an apex predator in a real-life shark attack.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 20 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for white-knuckle
Cite this Entry
“White-knuckle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/white-knuckle. Accessed 3 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share