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
The intense match was filled with nail-biting and exhilarating moments as celebrities and fans watched the action go down at Dodger Stadium.
—
Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
And the Carolina Panthers (4-4) and the Los Angeles Chargers (5-3) each pulled off nail-biting fourth-quarter come-from-behind wins against the Dolphins in wins the defense gift-wrapped its opponents.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2025
Landing anything on the moon isn’t easy, as demonstrated by Apollo 11’s nail-biting touchdown, in which the Lunar Module Eagle overshot the landing site leaving only minutes of fuel to find a safe landing spot, as well as by recent Athena mission overturned landings.
—Dan Vergano, Scientific American, 23 Oct. 2025
And while Powell needed approval, so did helmer Wright, recalling the nail-biting experience of sending over a first draft of the script he co-wrote with Michael Bacall.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 19 Oct. 2025
The Southwest Classic resembles that matchup in some ways, though the Razorbacks may struggle to mount the same scoreline against an Aggies roster that appears to have learnt some lessons since that nail-biting win.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025
This is also Detroit’s second straight season losing in a nail-biting ALDS Game 5, both times with Skubal on the mound.
—Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
This is nail-biting stuff, agonizing to sit through.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 6 Oct. 2025
Sometimes the stress of a nail-biting game calls for nervous munching.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 3 Oct. 2025
Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
And the Carolina Panthers (4-4) and the Los Angeles Chargers (5-3) each pulled off nail-biting fourth-quarter come-from-behind wins against the Dolphins in wins the defense gift-wrapped its opponents.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2025
Landing anything on the moon isn’t easy, as demonstrated by Apollo 11’s nail-biting touchdown, in which the Lunar Module Eagle overshot the landing site leaving only minutes of fuel to find a safe landing spot, as well as by recent Athena mission overturned landings.
—Dan Vergano, Scientific American, 23 Oct. 2025
And while Powell needed approval, so did helmer Wright, recalling the nail-biting experience of sending over a first draft of the script he co-wrote with Michael Bacall.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 19 Oct. 2025
The Southwest Classic resembles that matchup in some ways, though the Razorbacks may struggle to mount the same scoreline against an Aggies roster that appears to have learnt some lessons since that nail-biting win.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025
This is also Detroit’s second straight season losing in a nail-biting ALDS Game 5, both times with Skubal on the mound.
—Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
This is nail-biting stuff, agonizing to sit through.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 6 Oct. 2025
Sometimes the stress of a nail-biting game calls for nervous munching.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 3 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nail-biting
Adjective
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The dramatic incident comes during an already tense period in aviation, with significant delays and staffing shortages due to the government shutdown.—
Cindy Von Quednow,
CNN Money,
28 Oct. 2025
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Her boyfriend left the party early, and things were tense between them afterward.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Lawler, the best known of the young actors thanks to her breakout work in Station Eleven, brings welcome awkward humor, while Stack, with the series’ most complex character, conveys an uneasy grasp on sanity that the rest of the show isn’t really prepared to deal with.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Oct. 2025
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BofA also points to a record 54% of investors who now believe that AI stocks are in a bubble, according to its most recent Global Fund Manager Survey—another reason for heightened vigilance around the market’s uneasy exuberance.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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So much of what happens in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is disturbing — in particular, the character of Leatherface, the menacing, basement-dwelling killer who eats people and wears their faces after killing them.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
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What makes this even more disturbing is the involvement of teenagers, alcohol, and guns at a large house party.—
Hollie Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Louise Hémon The jury would also like to acknowledge a director whose film transported us into an extreme landscape, and created an unsettling atmosphere that kept us contemplating the nature of lust, education, and violence.—
Christian Blauvelt,
IndieWire,
24 Oct. 2025
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Soon, though, her world is turned upside down by an unsettling and persistent stalker — or just a figment of her own fracturing psyche.—
Chris Snellgrove,
Entertainment Weekly,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Some men avoid the gym or the beach altogether, wear baggy shirts year-round or feel anxious about intimacy.—
Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt,
CNN Money,
26 Oct. 2025
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Ottosson says reading the script was an anxious experience in itself.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Although Buffalo has allowed just 47 points in its last two games (both losses), the Chiefs offense has people nervous.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
23 Oct. 2025
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Not only are recent graduates nervous that their jobs could be replaced by AI, the application process is also becoming disrupted by the tools.—
Jessica Coacci,
Fortune,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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While some dog owners struggle with restless nights due to snoring or space-hogging canines, others, like the creator of this video, find joy and comfort in the company.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
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After several nights of restless sleep, the man’s patience finally ran out.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Justice Seekers are transforming fashion into armor through aggressive details like heavy distressing, slashes, spikes and harsh dye treatment.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
21 Oct. 2025
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What to Do If Your Dog Goes Missing While Uma’s story ended with more laughs than tears, many missing dog incidents can take a far more distressing turn.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nail-biting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nail-biting. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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