variants
or nerve-wracking
as in uneasy
marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings
the nerve-racking wait to learn the identities of the passengers who were killed in the plane crash
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of nerve-racking
Meeting the rapper, 44, in person proved to be a nerve-racking experience.
—
Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026
Caregiving like no other One reason that mental health caregivers particularly need support is that caring for someone with a serious mental illness can be nerve-racking, simply because of the nature of these disorders and diseases.
—Kat McGowan, NPR, 31 Dec. 2025
That was honestly the most nerve-racking thing.
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 25 Dec. 2025
In Parker's nerve-racking scene, her character gives gifts to each member of the Stone clan in an effort to mend fences with them, and Keaton's signature wit is on full display.
—Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nerve-racking
Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026
Caregiving like no other One reason that mental health caregivers particularly need support is that caring for someone with a serious mental illness can be nerve-racking, simply because of the nature of these disorders and diseases.
—Kat McGowan, NPR, 31 Dec. 2025
That was honestly the most nerve-racking thing.
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 25 Dec. 2025
In Parker's nerve-racking scene, her character gives gifts to each member of the Stone clan in an effort to mend fences with them, and Keaton's signature wit is on full display.
—Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nerve-racking
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nerve-racking
Adjective
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While speaking to AZFamily, graduate Grace Reimer said the situation left her feeling uneasy.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
23 May 2026
-
The excellent and the ordinary coexist, but have an uneasy relationship.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
22 May 2026
Adjective
-
In a statement to local media, the town government said Fox Rothschild has long represented Rolesville and called the incident deeply disturbing.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
23 May 2026
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In September 2016, economics professor Matthew Hendricks and some 3,000 other employees at the University of Tulsa received a disturbing email from the administration.—
Matt Schifrin,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
Adjective
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The film — which is based on David Haig's 2014 stage play of the same name — centers on the tense 72 hours before D-Day.—
Erin Clack,
PEOPLE,
23 May 2026
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As Republican concerns grew, Blanche held a tense meeting with GOP lawmakers Thursday.—
Eric Tucker,
Fortune,
23 May 2026
Adjective
-
There was laughter, nervous laughter, lots of nervous laughter, and also tears.—
Roberto Prieto,
Variety,
19 May 2026
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Providing the voice of one of the many alien characters is Martin Scorsese, who has some amusing moments with his typically rapid-fire delivery as a nervous street food vendor whom Djarin pumps for information.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
19 May 2026
Adjective
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The best affordable pet products are ones that solve everyday annoyances—like odor, shedding, scratch damage, messy mealtimes or anxious behaviors.—
Kasey Caminiti,
USA Today,
25 May 2026
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From grooming anxious puppies to overnight pet sitting, caring for pets on wedding days and looking after farm animals, a local pet services business is expanding its reach in the Northland later this year.—
Jenna Ebbers,
Kansas City Star,
23 May 2026
Adjective
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Tensions mount, especially when Matt reenters the picture, and Max Fabian’s fight choreography creates some unsettling moments.—
Emily McClanathan,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
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And that is not even touching on all the unsettling racial humor that came with having Shane Gillis and Tony Hinchliffe — two comedians who have actually faced backlash for hate speech — on the dais for the roast of a Black entertainer.—
Marcus Jones,
IndieWire,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
And yet behind the distressful scene, a young man continues to butcher an animal.—
Kaely Monahan,
The Arizona Republic,
27 Mar. 2024
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Despite the distressful news of Houston’s death that day, the event went forward to create a space for guests to mourn.—
Elizabeth Wagmeister,
CNN,
2 Feb. 2024
Adjective
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The head of a fish, cooked and glossy gray, emerges from a latticed crust, regarding the ceiling with an unnerving, dull-eyed serenity.—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
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Meanwhile, Cole’s quietly insidious plot unfolds around her with unnerving precision (although a handful of secondary characters sometimes swallow too much momentum), and that patience pays off enormously.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
17 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nerve-racking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nerve-racking. Accessed 26 May. 2026.
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