on pins and needles

phrase

Definition of on pins and needlesnext
as in anxious
feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty We were all on pins and needles as we awaited the doctor's call.

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for on pins and needles
on edge
Phrase
  • Why Most Leaders Are Solving The Wrong Problem When performance breaks down—when a strategy conversation goes sideways, when a key decision gets rushed, when a team starts operating on edge—the default explanations tend to be external.
    — Joy Nissen, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
  • The agency's recent focus on the program has left educators including David Thurston on edge.
    — Sequoia Carrillo, NPR, 10 July 2026
Definition of on edge
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.

Browse Nearby Words

on one's toes
on pins and needles
on purpose
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Cite this Entry

“On pins and needles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/on%20pins%20and%20needles. Accessed 17 Jul. 2026.

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