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
But the auctioning of legendary guitars brought the most money — and swear-inducing, nail-biting stress — to the event.
—
Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 15 Mar. 2026
The Boston Terriers men’s basketball team advanced to the Patriot League finals on Sunday with a nail-biting victory over the Navy Midshipmen, 73-72.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 9 Mar. 2026
Yes, they were knocked out in the first round, but that round also included an upset win over Mexico and a nail-biting loss to the United States that came down to the very last pitch.
—Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
With 33 total medals and plenty of nail-biting moments, Team USA just delivered its best Winter Games ever.
—Ronnie Li, USA Today, 25 Feb. 2026
There was a nail-biting overtime win, blowout victories both home and away, and moments of individual brilliance.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 21 Feb. 2026
Greaney puts his characters into nail-biting jeopardy, only to pull them out — sometimes — but in realistic ways.
—Oline H. Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 17 Feb. 2026
This system promises to end nail-biting traffic congestion, delivering a rail-like capacity at bus-fare prices without the traditional cost or construction timelines.
—New Atlas, 17 Feb. 2026
There have been nail-biting moments in Italy.
—Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 10 Feb. 2026
Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 15 Mar. 2026
The Boston Terriers men’s basketball team advanced to the Patriot League finals on Sunday with a nail-biting victory over the Navy Midshipmen, 73-72.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 9 Mar. 2026
Yes, they were knocked out in the first round, but that round also included an upset win over Mexico and a nail-biting loss to the United States that came down to the very last pitch.
—Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
With 33 total medals and plenty of nail-biting moments, Team USA just delivered its best Winter Games ever.
—Ronnie Li, USA Today, 25 Feb. 2026
There was a nail-biting overtime win, blowout victories both home and away, and moments of individual brilliance.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 21 Feb. 2026
Greaney puts his characters into nail-biting jeopardy, only to pull them out — sometimes — but in realistic ways.
—Oline H. Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 17 Feb. 2026
This system promises to end nail-biting traffic congestion, delivering a rail-like capacity at bus-fare prices without the traditional cost or construction timelines.
—New Atlas, 17 Feb. 2026
There have been nail-biting moments in Italy.
—Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 10 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nail-biting
Adjective
-
The atmosphere in El Portal Village Hall was tense during the 2 1/2-hour meeting that took place days after the demolition.—
Catherine Odom,
Miami Herald,
14 Mar. 2026
-
The World Baseball Classic rolls on, and Team USA lives to see another day after a tense first few innings spent watching Team Italy and Mexico on Wednesday.—
Johnny Flores Jr,
New York Times,
14 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The Shadow of Turkmenchay The uneasy relationship between the two powers stretches back nearly two centuries.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Residents who attended the rally said the situation has left many neighbors uneasy.—
Ross DiMattei,
CBS News,
14 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Though intensely disturbing, a scene where a TV shows a distorted iteration of a character that Ohm watched as a kid rings out of place, even if the context involves his mother’s tragic passing.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Variety,
15 Mar. 2026
-
If true, this is obviously disturbing.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
In November 2022, as NASA prepared for its maiden Artemis launch, agents from its Office of Protective Services made an unsettling discovery whose details have never been previously revealed.—
Adam Ciralsky,
Vanity Fair,
19 Mar. 2026
-
What sets Brule apart from fellow idiots in similar setups like Borat or Philomena Cunk is Reilly’s ability to present Brule with deep pathos and a sense of mystery, offering glimpses into a dark backstory, all made unsettling by the show’s analog-horror aesthetic.—
Eric Vilas-Boas,
Vulture,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Over a week, readers were treated to a raft of anxious baby content.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Tokyo is also becoming increasingly anxious about Chinese missiles targeting Japanese bases.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
With companies pulling out because of trade uncertainty, workers are nervous about organizing, knowing that any friction risks further factory closures that could trigger more layoffs.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
17 Mar. 2026
-
There was a beat of nervous confusion as Palmer declined his advances.—
Deborah Sengupta Stith,
Austin American Statesman,
17 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Long car rides can make for fussy, restless kids.—
Dr. Katherine Williamson,
Boston Herald,
15 Mar. 2026
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In my opinion, there’s nothing worse than a disruptive, restless sleep.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
While the book contains a small number of images of nudity, they are presented with unguarded vulnerability, including depictions of distressing medical experiences.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Smith shares a distressing anecdote.—
Todd Martens,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nail-biting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nail-biting. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.
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