as in tense
marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings
for a couple of nail-biting moments we thought that we had actually won the mega lottery
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Recent Examples of nail-biting
The Cincinnati Bengals came away with a nail-biting Week 1 win over the Cleveland Browns, emerging with a 17-16 victory thanks to the Browns missing both an extra point and a 36-yard field goal.
—
Matthew Schmidt, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Meanwhile, Anisimova mounted a comeback in her semifinal, defeating Naomi Osaka (23) in a nail-biting match that stretched past midnight.
—Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
The venue, boasting what’s billed as one of the largest stages in the world, will be outfitted with a ramp course for six riders, while overhead, spectators can watch Argentinian acrobats Flora Aracama and Nico Busso work their nail-biting, emotional magic on the rings.
—Miles Socha, Footwear News, 6 Sep. 2025
The final set was much more of a contest, with the duo exchanging multiple breaks of serve as the match wound down to a nail-biting finish.
—Reuters, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2025
With six strong innings from Clayton Kershaw and three innings of nail-biting relief, the Dodgers ended a four-game losing streak and regained a share of first place in the National League West with a 3-2 victory over the San Diego Padres on Friday night.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 16 Aug. 2025
On July 22, at the Junior Olympics’ Platinum Division four-day tournament in Orange County, the Del Mar 12U Blue squad faced off in an exhilarating final match against Newport Beach Water Polo Club that ended in a nail-biting 10-10 tie.
—News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Aug. 2025
Matthew Schmidt, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Meanwhile, Anisimova mounted a comeback in her semifinal, defeating Naomi Osaka (23) in a nail-biting match that stretched past midnight.
—Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
The venue, boasting what’s billed as one of the largest stages in the world, will be outfitted with a ramp course for six riders, while overhead, spectators can watch Argentinian acrobats Flora Aracama and Nico Busso work their nail-biting, emotional magic on the rings.
—Miles Socha, Footwear News, 6 Sep. 2025
The final set was much more of a contest, with the duo exchanging multiple breaks of serve as the match wound down to a nail-biting finish.
—Reuters, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2025
With six strong innings from Clayton Kershaw and three innings of nail-biting relief, the Dodgers ended a four-game losing streak and regained a share of first place in the National League West with a 3-2 victory over the San Diego Padres on Friday night.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 16 Aug. 2025
On July 22, at the Junior Olympics’ Platinum Division four-day tournament in Orange County, the Del Mar 12U Blue squad faced off in an exhilarating final match against Newport Beach Water Polo Club that ended in a nail-biting 10-10 tie.
—News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nail-biting
Adjective
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The exchange grew more tense when Brzezinski raised concerns about ICE vehicles parked outside a Spanish-language Mass in Boston, saying such actions spread fear in immigrant communities.—
Heather Hunter,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Sep. 2025
-
The arrests also raised alarm in Seoul, further complicating tense US-South Korea relations over investments agreed to in their trade deal, the Financial Times reported.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
And that helped to resolve that weird uneasy tension in my head.—
Maria Reva
September 3,
Literary Hub,
3 Sep. 2025
-
The safe-haven asset offers investors a hedge against an uneasy financial environment as a sharp hiring slowdown coincides with a steady uptick of inflation, according to analysts.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
That's depicted in a disturbing, if somewhat inscrutable, scene.—
Esther Zuckerman,
Time,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Possibly, something disturbing will occur because someone has decided to make emotional demands on you.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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In turn, chickens have become a powerful — if not somewhat unsettling — example of how acutely humans can dictate the evolutionary destiny of other species.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
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Having previously allowed Alessia Russo, Ona Batlle and Mary Earps to run their contracts into the final stages — a situation the club say was unsettling for the squad — United were determined not to make the same error.—
Charlotte Harpur,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Maddie is talented, warm, funny and kind but also anxious, plagued with low self-esteem cultivated by a traumatic childhood.—
Jourdain Searles,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Sep. 2025
-
The other may be unsure, though not opposed, but anxious about leaving family and community.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Against Świątek, in two nervous moments, one of them on match point, net cords had given her safe harbor.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2025
-
The district’s disparate parts would be connected largely by two-lane highways cutting through steep slopes of places such as the Modoc National Forest, where nervous drivers must beware of a lack of guardrails.—
David Mark,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Of the roiling mass of restless natives, cranky artists and tattered idealists who rose up across the Southland this summer to flip off darkness and call America back to its better angels?—
John Lopez,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Sep. 2025
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While his wife and daughter build a new life in Vienna, Roman stays behind — confused, restless and convinced that things will get better.—
Christopher Vourlias,
Variety,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The fact that calls here are so unbearably real adds an extra gut punch to an already distressing scenario.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
3 Sep. 2025
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Look for options with less hardware, no distressing, and a straightforward shape.—
Christina Holevas,
Vogue,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nail-biting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nail-biting. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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