as in tense
marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings
for a couple of nail-biting moments we thought that we had actually won the mega lottery
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Recent Examples of nail-biting
Mizzou earned a nail-biting 89-84 victory over Southeast Missouri in its home opener.
—
Joseph Pastilha, Kansas City Star, 5 Apr. 2026
The fans had to endure nail-biting conclusions in away victories over Manchester United in August, Everton in December, and Bournemouth and Chelsea in January (in the Carabao Cup).
—Nnamdi Onyeagwara, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026
Fellow contenders include Josh Safdie's nail-biting collab with Timothée Chalamet, Marty Supreme, and Joachim Trier's poignant family tale, Sentimental Value, which each earned nine nods, while Chloé Zhao's heartbreaking Hamnet followed with eight.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Mar. 2026
But the auctioning of legendary guitars brought the most money — and swear-inducing, nail-biting stress — to the event.
—Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 15 Mar. 2026
The Boston Terriers men’s basketball team advanced to the Patriot League finals on Sunday with a nail-biting victory over the Navy Midshipmen, 73-72.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 9 Mar. 2026
With 33 total medals and plenty of nail-biting moments, Team USA just delivered its best Winter Games ever.
—Ronnie Li, USA Today, 25 Feb. 2026
There was a nail-biting overtime win, blowout victories both home and away, and moments of individual brilliance.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 21 Feb. 2026
This system promises to end nail-biting traffic congestion, delivering a rail-like capacity at bus-fare prices without the traditional cost or construction timelines.
—New Atlas, 17 Feb. 2026
Joseph Pastilha, Kansas City Star, 5 Apr. 2026
The fans had to endure nail-biting conclusions in away victories over Manchester United in August, Everton in December, and Bournemouth and Chelsea in January (in the Carabao Cup).
—Nnamdi Onyeagwara, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026
Fellow contenders include Josh Safdie's nail-biting collab with Timothée Chalamet, Marty Supreme, and Joachim Trier's poignant family tale, Sentimental Value, which each earned nine nods, while Chloé Zhao's heartbreaking Hamnet followed with eight.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Mar. 2026
But the auctioning of legendary guitars brought the most money — and swear-inducing, nail-biting stress — to the event.
—Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 15 Mar. 2026
The Boston Terriers men’s basketball team advanced to the Patriot League finals on Sunday with a nail-biting victory over the Navy Midshipmen, 73-72.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 9 Mar. 2026
With 33 total medals and plenty of nail-biting moments, Team USA just delivered its best Winter Games ever.
—Ronnie Li, USA Today, 25 Feb. 2026
There was a nail-biting overtime win, blowout victories both home and away, and moments of individual brilliance.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 21 Feb. 2026
This system promises to end nail-biting traffic congestion, delivering a rail-like capacity at bus-fare prices without the traditional cost or construction timelines.
—New Atlas, 17 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nail-biting
Adjective
-
Diehard fans banged bass drums, songs emanated from the supporters’ wall and a packed stadium of 7,211 buzzed all the way through stoppage time of a tense game.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
5 Apr. 2026
-
African American Language also tends to have nuance in its tense structure, incorporating modifiers and unique contractions.—
Moriah Humiston,
NBC news,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
That neighbor also raised concerns about security, saying fewer on-site resources and changes in how calls are handled have left some people feeling uneasy.—
Daniel Wilkerson,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
-
As the war in Iran stretches into a fifth week, investors who had been hopeful for a quick resolution are growing increasingly uneasy about the real-world fallout from the conflict.—
Tanaya Macheel,
CNBC,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The Drama stars Robert Pattinson and Zendaya as Charlie and Emma, a young couple whose lives and upcoming wedding are thrown into disarray when the latter drunkenly reveals a disturbing secret from her past.—
Mike Miller,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Apr. 2026
-
The details her 10-year-old daughter provided were disturbing for any parent to hear.—
Ashley Sharp,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The wild swings in temperatures can be unsettling for people, Francis and others said, and also reflect the realities of a warming climate.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Though Lomeli denied both her 2021 and 2026 petitions, she is allowed to continue filing similar requests in the future, a notion that is deeply unsettling for Gabriel’s relatives.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Iran continues to fire missiles at Israel each day, disrupting the lives of millions of anxious and exhausted voters.—
Melanie Lidman,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Investors have grown more anxious about inflation, with Treasury yields rising and consumer surveys showing short‑term price expectations drifting upward.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Who isn’t nervous meeting the prospective in-laws for the first time?—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Jason Bateman delivers the mundane analogy like a pro, blending sincerity and uncertainty inside his singular, nervous vocal rhythms.—
Andy Andersen,
Vulture,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
In Nazi Germany, the regime understood that nothing unites a restless population faster than a common enemy.—
Steven Burg,
Sun Sentinel,
5 Apr. 2026
-
There, the pioneers—practical, inventive, restless, exuberant white men—clashed with Indigenous peoples, subduing them and a wilderness filled with wild animals and abundant natural resources.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Clinical procedures, including intravenous infusions, are designed to be predictable and minimally distressing.—
Wyles Daniel,
USA Today,
23 Mar. 2026
-
The stalemate stems from Democrats’ insistence on immigration-enforcement reform — particularly, the cruel and often erroneous enforcement that is sending shockwaves of fear throughout immigrant populations and even distressing American-citizen residents of Puerto Rico.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nail-biting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nail-biting. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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