nail-biting

adjective

Definition of nail-bitingnext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for nail-biting
  1. tense
  2. uneasy
  3. disturbing
  4. unsettling
  5. anxious
  6. nervous
  7. restless
  8. creepy
Adjective
  • Set on a covered terrace, the Blue Hole Pool (among the largest hydrotherapy pools in the Maldives) has a series of whirlpool jets that will make quick work of a sore back and tense shoulders.
    Sandra MacGregor, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2024
  • Pauses that should be tense comedic moments instead feel like accidental hiccups.
    Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 29 Nov. 2024
Definition of tense
Adjective
  • The idea of semitrucks without drivers makes Kentucky Republican state Sen. Greg Elkins uneasy.
    Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
  • Feeling uneasy or insecure in such situations is completely natural—and a valid reaction, at that.
    Mark Travers, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024
Definition of uneasy
Adjective
  • In court, attorneys for the state also described a disturbing scene.
    Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 20 Nov. 2024
  • Here are two reasons behind these often disturbing experiences, according to research.
    Mark Travers, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
Definition of disturbing
Adjective
  • Today, however, the movie feels more like an uncomfortably timely cautionary tale with unsettling echoes of current events.
    Joe Leydon, Variety, 22 Nov. 2024
  • In public, Uzi simply moves differently, with an insistent sway that can feel both thrilling and unsettling.
    Mosi Reeves, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2024
Definition of unsettling
Adjective
  • Boutin has been in remission from thyroid cancer since August, but just had a related surgery last week and the couple was anxious about Boutin inhaling any smoke.
    CNN.com, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
  • Joe Biden lost North Carolina by just over one percentage point in 2020, but Harris has been tied or ahead in several recent polls there, and the Trump campaign has been increasingly anxious about it.
    The New Yorker, The New Yorker, 5 Nov. 2024
Definition of anxious
Adjective
  • There’s really nothing to be nervous about, just the optics of everything.
    Peter A. Berry, Billboard, 18 Nov. 2024
  • The tech industry has been nervous about what Trump, who now has his own social network in the form of Truth Social, might do about Section 230 the second time around.
    David Meyer, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2024
Definition of nervous
Adjective
  • Popular on Variety The result is a film that mirrors the restless spirit of its subjects while breaking all of the rules of traditional documentary filmmaking.
    William Earl, Variety, 20 Nov. 2024
  • Kamala’s Glock and Camo hats on their own just weren’t enough to sway restless voters in the middle.
    Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 18 Nov. 2024
Definition of restless
Adjective
  • Luna rocked a black and red creepy clown look, while Miles dressed up and dabbed as DJ Marshmello.
    Colson Thayer, People.com, 1 Nov. 2024
  • TikTokers shared similarly creepy encounters in the video's comments.
    Madalyn Mendoza, Axios, 31 Oct. 2024
Definition of creepy
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.

Thesaurus Entries Near nail-biting

nail-biters

nail-biting

nail (down)

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Nail-biting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nail-biting. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.

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