as in thriller
something (as a close contest) that induces much suspense as to its outcome
a presidential election that was one of the great nail-biters of all time
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Recent Examples of nail-biter
The taut nail-biter is well-acted, crafted with skill and briskly paced, running a tight 95 minutes.
—
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2026
The Music Box continues its series celebrating nail-biters centered on prison breaks.
—Jennifer Day, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026
There's been thrillers, nail-biters, and a couple of upsets in the men's tournament.
—Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 20 Mar. 2026
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is polling far behind his opposition rival heading into next month’s presidential election, but a glut of undecided voters could make the final results a nail-biter.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nail-biter
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2026
The Music Box continues its series celebrating nail-biters centered on prison breaks.
—Jennifer Day, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026
There's been thrillers, nail-biters, and a couple of upsets in the men's tournament.
—Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 20 Mar. 2026
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is polling far behind his opposition rival heading into next month’s presidential election, but a glut of undecided voters could make the final results a nail-biter.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nail-biter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nail-biter
thriller
Noun
-
An addictive blend of thriller and slapstick, this novel is an absorbing and quick read, or listen.—
The Know,
Denver Post,
31 May 2026
-
After a double-overtime thriller to start the series, the teams have traded haymakers in the last five contests, setting up a one-game showdown for the right to play in the NBA Finals.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nail-biter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nail-biter. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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