on pins and needles

phrase

Definition of on pins and needlesnext
as in anxious
feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty We were all on pins and needles as we awaited the doctor's call.

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for on pins and needles
on edge
Phrase
  • Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty Images Oil prices were little changed Wednesday as worries over Middle East supply disruptions keep the market on edge, with attacks on tankers near the Strait of Hormuz and Saudi energy facilities denting sentiment.
    — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Rivera said the possibility of gunfire puts her family on edge.
    — Frederick Sutton Sinclair, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of on edge
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.

Browse Nearby Words

on one's toes
on pins and needles
on purpose
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Cite this Entry

“On pins and needles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/on%20pins%20and%20needles. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

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