NAIL-BITING Synonyms: 38 Similar and Opposite Words

nail-biting

adjective

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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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.

Recent Examples of nail-biting In the Sparks’ previous matchup against the Storm a month ago, the two had totaled 34 points in the nail-biting 88-83 win. — Liana Handler, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026 And after the nail-biting first finish, game two was shaping up to be just as close, with the pair going shot-for-shot until Chris Allen gave the Riot a 17-12 advantage — the largest of the matchup so far. — Ava Dicecca, Sun Sentinel, 5 July 2026 Both teams are coming off nail-biting victories, with Canada scoring in injury time to snatch a 1-0 win from South Africa, and Morocco beating the Netherlands on penalties after trailing 0-1 in the game until the 90th minute. — Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 4 July 2026 After a nail-biting game where Cape Verde and Argentina went into extra time and were deadlocked until the last few minutes, Argentine fans at the FIFA Fan Fest downtown in Miami launched out of their seats when their team finally won. — Delia Sauer, Miami Herald, 3 July 2026 In the second installment, one memorable and nail-biting scene involved a 2,000-foot cliff in Moab, Utah. — Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026 After an offseason of questions, speculation and even nail-biting worry about the most important right ankle in Denver sports, Bo Nix planted it into the turf at the end of a three-step dropback and lofted a ball toward the front pylon of the end zone. — Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 19 June 2026 Over the weekend, the World Cup kicked off its monthlong series of games, but more importantly, in a 4-1 nail-biting series win, the New York Knicks took home their first NBA championship in 53 years. — Alexandra Hildreth, Vogue, 18 June 2026 The New York Knicks have finally snagged the NBA championship title after a nail-biting win against the San Antonio Spurs this past weekend. — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 15 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for nail-biting

Adjective

From Newt's family making first contact with a Facehugger to a wonderfully tense sentry gun sequence, Cameron's extra footage enhances a classic.

— Richard Edwards, Space.com, 17 July 2026
In years when the contract is due to be renewed, the waiting period can get tense as fears that the convention will leave San Diego often surface when organizers demand new concessions from hoteliers and the city.

— Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 July 2026

Definition of tense

Adjective

But as mainstream coverage of looksmaxxing continues and people like Clavicular are platformed by the fashion establishment, professionals across the beauty ecosystem are still uneasy.

— Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 15 July 2026
Politics and sport have always been uneasy bedfellows, but until recently referees and other sport officials have rarely been dragged into the public discourse.

— Graham Scott, New York Times, 9 July 2026

Definition of uneasy

Adjective

But now, the idyllic Mississippi island is overcast with an unsettling pall after the death of 18-year-old Nolan Wells.

— Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 18 July 2026
Below, Entertainment Weekly looks back at eight other unsettling encounters celebrities have had while on the job.

— Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 17 July 2026

Definition of unsettling

Adjective

Meditation, deep breathing, physical exercise or something as simple as doing laundry can interrupt the cycle of anxious searching.

— Rachel Hale, USA Today, 19 July 2026
Students are less anxious about money, less overwhelmed; their physical and mental health has improved.

— Jay A. Perman, Baltimore Sun, 18 July 2026

Definition of anxious

Adjective

Some nervous observers are going so far as to swear off salads and other raw fruits and vegetables until the outbreak has run its course.

— Nikki McCann Ramirez, Rolling Stone, 16 July 2026
But Griffin’s recent donation to Moody is not the only indication Republicans could be more nervous about Florida than the Senate races in other bright-red states.

— Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 16 July 2026

Definition of nervous

Adjective

Between a home with three young children and a pediatric clinic crowded with restless kids, the noise at times felt relentless.

— Dana Suskind, Time, 14 July 2026
From the volatile peaks of Mount Etna to the restless Phlegraean Fields near Naples, understanding these unique gas signatures is important for assessing volcanic hazard.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 13 July 2026

Definition of restless

Adjective

Recent news about literacy, education and general smarts in California and across the country has been somewhat distressing.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2026
Plot The film opens with news reports of a string of grave robbings in Texas, along with a litany of other violent and distressing reports of world events.

— Jordana Rosenfeld, Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 July 2026

Definition of distressing

Browse Nearby Words

nail-biters

nail-biting

nail (down)

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“Nail-biting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nail-biting. Accessed 21 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of nail-biting

adjective

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