nerve-racking

adjective

nerve-rack·​ing ˈnərv-ˌra-kiŋ How to pronounce nerve-racking (audio)
variants or nerve-wracking
: extremely trying on the nerves
a nerve-racking ordeal
The job interview was a nerve-racking experience.

Examples of nerve-racking in a Sentence

the nerve-racking wait to learn the identities of the passengers who were killed in the plane crash
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
This is the nerve-racking question that has been circling in the mind of the Venezuelan mother in New York City all week. Nicole Acevedo, NBC news, 27 May 2025 What could be an exciting, life-changing experience can turn into a nerve-racking encounter that many people of color do not want to have again. Serena Billett, Charlotte Observer, 20 May 2025 One of them is a nerve-racking, crosscutting game of misdirection and accumulating danger atop a balance beam. A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 19 May 2025 What should have been an incredibly nerve-racking week for Liverpool and their fans is now simply just people being excited about watching the Premier League’s new champions play again. Andy Jones, New York Times, 11 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for nerve-racking

Word History

First Known Use

1812, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nerve-racking was in 1812

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Nerve-racking.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nerve-racking. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on nerve-racking

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!