NAIL-BITING Synonyms: 38 Similar and Opposite Words

nail-biting

adjective

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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Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of nail-biting Texas passed its first SEC test with what turned out to be a nail-biting 20-17 win over Tennessee in Knoxville. — Reid Laymance, Houston Chronicle, 27 Sep. 2026 During the nail-biting matchup, Travis, 36, set the NFL record for most yards after a first-quarter catch from Patrick Mahomes that led to a touchdown, surpassing Hall of Fame running back Marshall Faulk to solidify himself at the top of the list. — Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2026 And naturally, the festival also serves as something of a springboard for those nail-biting awards runs. — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 21 Sep. 2026 Our final action scene isn’t the biggest or brashest, but certainly the most nail-biting and, pound for pound, the most consequential of the season. — Andy Andersen, Vulture, 20 Sep. 2026 This multi-day celebration of culture, community, and fun fills Lansing’s downtown corridor with delicious flavor, handicrafts, soulful live music, and even nail-biting lucha libre wrestling. — Ashlyn Ware, Midwest Living, 15 Sep. 2026 But the wins have, largely, been grinding contests reliant on perfect pitching and nail-biting relief. — Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026 Once the final paddle was raised, the crowd strolled over to the President’s Suite in Arthur Ashe Stadium for dessert, Honey Deuces, and a front row seat to the nail-biting Djokovic-Navone match. — Paul Chi, Vogue, 31 Aug. 2026 The movie’s nail-biting centerpiece is filmed partly with night-vision lenses, as Bangley cuts down dozens of attackers. — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for nail-biting

Adjective

Neither starter excelled on a tense, uncommonly hot October night in downtown San Diego.

— ABC News, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026
The conversation seems to turn tense when Hanks speaks face-to-face with André and security personnel block the view.

— Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of tense

Adjective

Brian had written down the recipe, and, in his back shed, Michael, with the eventual assistance of Kasey, sets about following it into strange and disturbing territory.

— Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
Artificial’s timeliness in that regard is striking, even disturbing.

— David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of disturbing

Adjective

As in the thriller, anxious local leaders debated whether publicizing the peril would scare off tourists.

— Bob Drogin, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2026
Because of these risks, many conservation groups and lawmakers are anxious to see permanent protections.

— Christiana Freitag, Chicago Tribune, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of anxious

Adjective

Everyone was in a good mood, if a little nervous about what was going to be discussed.

— Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026
Alberto Hernandez Castillo, a Cuban national with lawful permanent residence in the United States, was also acting nervous, the agent said.

— David Goodhue October 6, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of nervous

Adjective

Created in 1958, the ballet felt unmistakably New York in its sound, its street clothes, its restless young people, its particular brand of cool.

— Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2026
Recorded in Texas and rooted in the sound of the border, Bobby Pulido’s enduring classic turns restless longing into warm, danceable energy.

— qygwork, Billboard, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of restless

Adjective

The Los Angeles Dodgers x Vans Sk8-Hi and Era deliver heaps of team branding and a combo of distressing and patchwork-like assembly to separate the shoes from your baseline sports merch.

— Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 30 Sep. 2026
Meanwhile, fake distressing tends to look random or overly uniform.

— Shagun Khare, Martha Stewart, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of distressing

Browse Nearby Words

nail-biters

nail-biting

nail (down)

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Nail-biting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nail-biting. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of nail-biting

adjective

Example Sentences

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