as in thriller
something (as a close contest) that induces much suspense as to its outcome
a presidential election that was one of the great nail-biters of all time
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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-biter
The taut nail-biter is well-acted, crafted with skill and briskly paced, running a tight 95 minutes.
—
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2026
The Music Box continues its series celebrating nail-biters centered on prison breaks.
—Jennifer Day, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026
There's been thrillers, nail-biters, and a couple of upsets in the men's tournament.
—Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 20 Mar. 2026
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is polling far behind his opposition rival heading into next month’s presidential election, but a glut of undecided voters could make the final results a nail-biter.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nail-biter
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2026
The Music Box continues its series celebrating nail-biters centered on prison breaks.
—Jennifer Day, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026
There's been thrillers, nail-biters, and a couple of upsets in the men's tournament.
—Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 20 Mar. 2026
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is polling far behind his opposition rival heading into next month’s presidential election, but a glut of undecided voters could make the final results a nail-biter.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nail-biter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nail-biter
thriller
Noun
-
Lupino makes the most of a low budget, crafting a genuinely suspenseful thriller with potent emotional resonance.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 June 2026
-
After opening to $17 million against a budget of less than $1 million, the horror thriller has grossed more than $116 million in North America.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
6 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nail-biter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nail-biter. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
