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
This movie’s nail-biting, sorrowful power comes from what internalized destruction looks like.
—
Robert Abele,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 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
Qatar are coming off an even more nail-biting finish.
—
Jibin Joseph,
PC Magazine,
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
In a nail-biting game that went down to the final second, the Knicks secured a 107-106 victory, coming back from 76-49 at halftime.
—
Clare Fisher,
PEOPLE,
11 June 2026
That’s the question at the heart of Hulu’s nail-biting new crime thriller, Furious.
—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 June 2026
Griffin takes us on a journey through his extraordinary career, from his appointment as a flight director in the wake of the Apollo 1 fire, through the audacious decision to send Apollo 8 around the moon, all the way to the nail-biting rescue of Apollo 13.
—
Space.com Staff,
Space.com,
6 June 2026
Robert Abele,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 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
Qatar are coming off an even more nail-biting finish.
—
Jibin Joseph,
PC Magazine,
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
In a nail-biting game that went down to the final second, the Knicks secured a 107-106 victory, coming back from 76-49 at halftime.
—
Clare Fisher,
PEOPLE,
11 June 2026
That’s the question at the heart of Hulu’s nail-biting new crime thriller, Furious.
—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 June 2026
Griffin takes us on a journey through his extraordinary career, from his appointment as a flight director in the wake of the Apollo 1 fire, through the audacious decision to send Apollo 8 around the moon, all the way to the nail-biting rescue of Apollo 13.
—
Space.com Staff,
Space.com,
6 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nail-biting
Adjective
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American supporters were tense through the second half, in which both teams were tied until the final play, when Türkiye tipped in a buzzer-beating goal to win the match 3-2.
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In Edward Zwick's tense Civil War drama about the first all-Black Army regiment, freedmen and freedom seekers volunteer to prove to white America and themselves that liberty is worth dying for.
Adjective
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As the nation gears up to celebrate its 250th birthday, most Americans feel uneasy about their present, and pessimistic about their future, polls show.
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Sanders takes an uneasy step, into his wonderful, painful childhood.
Adjective
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The film is a modern take on the creature horror film told from the perspective of a young boy who slowly begins to discover that his beloved parents are hiding a disturbing secret about his mother’s true nature.
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This past Juneteenth weekend saw a spate of shooting incidents that underscored a disturbing trend.
Adjective
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The New York Times reported that multiple women who once dated Platner described the Maine oysterman’s behavior as intimidating and unsettling.
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This move, by a native of the attention economy, signals a growing trend of users actively disengaging, unsettling consumer investors.
Adjective
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Though fans are anxious to see Andrade return to more events, her job in Rio is done.
-
Homeless, his body torn, Odysseus needs to get back to her and Telemachus, his anxious son, and to clean up the mess.
Adjective
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Oprah selected it for her book club; at her compound in Montecito, Whitehead was so nervous that her staff insisted on blow-drying the damp patches of his dress shirt before they were introduced.
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The low unemployment rate had made many economists nervous, including some on the Fed.
Adjective
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But the Champions Gate should’ve been placed at an entrance to the actual ballpark and not to Gallagher Way, which is basically used as an area for fans to bring kids who are too restless to sit and watch an entire game.
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Lane noted that the day’s iconic venues in Old City Philadelphia fittingly represent the birthplace of the very first startup—America itself—reminders that the American story has always been intertwined with ideas, enterprise, capital and the restless pursuit of a better future.
Adjective
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The central item in the second collection was the Puma x Nahmias Speedcat, a low-profile racing shoe updated with suede overlays, light distressing and co-branded detailing.
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The Physical And Mental Toll Of Protecting Wildlife Ranger work is physically challenging, often emotionally distressing, but essential.
Cite this Entry
“Nail-biting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nail-biting. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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