nail-biter
noun
nail-bit·er
ˈnāl-ˌbī-tər 
: something (such as a close contest) that induces tension or anxiety
Examples of nail-biter in a Sentence
a presidential election that was one of the great nail-biters of all time
Recent Examples on the Web
While UConn got to this stage with a nail-biter, the other three teams haven’t really been tested yet in the tournament.
—
Josh Dubow, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026
While UConn got to this stage with a nail-biter, the other three teams haven't really been tested yet in the tournament.
—ABC News, 31 Mar. 2026
Ole Miss gave us another nail-biter.
—Tim Rohan, NBC news, 23 Mar. 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
See All Example Sentences for nail-biter
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Josh Dubow, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026
While UConn got to this stage with a nail-biter, the other three teams haven't really been tested yet in the tournament.
—ABC News, 31 Mar. 2026
Ole Miss gave us another nail-biter.
—Tim Rohan, NBC news, 23 Mar. 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
See All Example Sentences for nail-biter
Cite this Entry
“Nail-biter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nail-biter. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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