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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nail-biting
Adjective
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Parents raising kids alongside friends told me about tense debates—such as whether to let kids play with toy guns and whether adults should leave alcohol out in common spaces—as well as routine disagreements about how to share caregiving duties and household space.—
Rhaina Cohen,
The Atlantic,
11 May 2025 -
The composition is credited to the film’s actors Lola Kirke, Peter Dreams, Brian Dunphy, Darren Holden and Jack O'Connell, who perform it in a quieter moment in the movie, breaking up the action and some tense storytelling.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
11 May 2025
Adjective
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These chewy ginger candies are her secret weapon for taming an uneasy stomach naturally.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
9 May 2025
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The Wall Street firm predicted that international institutional investors could be rethinking their appetite and risk-reward in U.S. investments as the current uneasy macroenvironment keeps them on edge.—
Yun Li,
CNBC,
8 May 2025
Adjective
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The lack of caring about my childhood was so disturbing.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
28 Apr. 2025
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Instead, this is yet another disturbing reminder that our society values certain lives more than others.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Squeezing into the narrow confines, the clang of the metal doors closing and the nearness of their neighbors can be unsettling, if not downright dangerous.—
Dana O'Neil,
New York Times,
3 May 2025
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That's unsettling for Mobile native Darron Patterson.—
Debbie Elliott,
NPR,
1 May 2025
Adjective
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This productivity decline stems from several factors: Workplace morale deteriorates Remaining employees absorb additional responsibilities Teams become anxious about future job security When employees question whether their leaders truly value them, their enthusiasm and dedication suffer.—
Caroline Castrillon,
Forbes.com,
11 May 2025
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Nobel laureates, such as MIT’s Daron Acemoglu, are worried about its capacity to worsen income inequalities, and ordinary American workers are anxious about AI’s impact on jobs.—
Bhaskar Chakravorti,
Harvard Business Review,
8 May 2025
Adjective
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A little nervous at first, Harry does well calling the boat in.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
13 May 2025
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The Trump administration became increasingly nervous at the prospect of a major war erupting in one of the most populous places on the planet.—
Daniel DePetris,
Chicago Tribune,
13 May 2025
Adjective
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At one point, the crowd in Los Angeles was growing restless, Ms. Reese said, with people pushing one another to reach the front.—
Alisha Haridasani Gupta,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2025
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Last weekend, the sun was particularly restless, unleashing eight M-class solar flares between Friday and Monday.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Coraline features terrific voice performances by Dakota Fanning and Teri Hatcher, and a tone that perfectly rides the line between creepy and spellbinding.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
EW.com,
10 May 2025
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The 1988 original is a creepy comedy classic, and its supernatural sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, was also a hit at the box office, grossing more than $400 million worldwide.—
Christopher Rudolph,
People.com,
10 May 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Nail-biting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nail-biting. Accessed 16 May. 2025.
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