nail-biter

noun

ˈnāl-ˌbī-tər How to pronounce nail-biter (audio)
Definition of nail-biternext
as in thriller
something (as a close contest) that induces much suspense as to its outcome a presidential election that was one of the great nail-biters of all time

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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-biter His 3-yard touchdown reception with 13 seconds left brought relief to Sandburg, which slipped past Lincoln-Way Central 21-17 in a SouthWest Suburban Conference nail-biter in Orland Park. — Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 26 Sep. 2026 Tucker, Max Muncy, Mookie Betts and Will Smith all homered in a five-run eighth inning, turning a nail-biter into a comfortable win. — Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026 But the race has not turned into the nail-biter most anticipated, and Democrats outside Georgia are taking notice – at a time when the party is debating how to escape the political wilderness and win back a majority in Congress. — Sam Gringlas, NPR, 27 Aug. 2026 Those results initially made Ossoff’s 2026 reelection campaign appear likely to become another nail-biter. — Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 22 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for nail-biter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nail-biter
thriller
Noun
  • Creator and showrunner Debora Cahn spoke in depth about the Season 4 finale of her Netflix political thriller series, including a pivotal decision by the show’s protagonist, Kate Wyler.
    — Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The best crime thrillers consider the way violence, an endemic feature of human societies, can spiral out of hand.
    — David Faris, TheWeek, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of thriller

Browse Nearby Words

nail
nail-biter
nail-biters
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Cite this Entry

“Nail-biter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nail-biter. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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