on tenterhooks

phrase

Definition of on tenterhooksnext
as in nervous
feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty He's been on tenterhooks in anticipation of his acceptance letter.

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for on tenterhooks
on edge
Phrase
  • The immediate online backlash to comments about Kirk’s death put institutions on edge.
    — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 14 July 2026
  • Vigilante-style document checks, arrests of at least 350 people and investigations into multiple migrant deaths have left foreign communities on edge, pushing some legal residents to seek repatriation.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 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-target
on tenterhooks
on the alert
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“On tenterhooks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/on%20tenterhooks. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

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