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
Luke Isaak, San Ramon Valley basketball: The senior scored 33 points and 14 rebounds as SRV took down Oakland Tech 77-74 in an overtime nail-biter.
—
Christian Babcock, The Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2025
The contest was a nail-biter the whole way, with no lead exceeding double digits.
—Ryan Morik, Fox News, 8 Mar. 2025
The latest is Hulu’s Paradise, which is a real nail-biter from start to finish.
—Dana Feldman, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
But her 2024 election to the Senate was, if possible, even more of a nail-biter.
—Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nail-biter
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Christian Babcock, The Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2025
The contest was a nail-biter the whole way, with no lead exceeding double digits.
—Ryan Morik, Fox News, 8 Mar. 2025
The latest is Hulu’s Paradise, which is a real nail-biter from start to finish.
—Dana Feldman, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
But her 2024 election to the Senate was, if possible, even more of a nail-biter.
—Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 5 Mar. 2025
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 16 Mar. 2025.
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