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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Recent Examples of nail-biter
Two Arizona Republicans prolonged voting in the House speaker's race, adding suspense to a tumultuous election that was already shaping up to be a nail-biter.
—
Laura Gersony, The Arizona Republic, 3 Jan. 2025
Friday’s Speaker vote is shaping up to be a nail-biter as Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.), the current House leader, is scrambling to keep the gavel for the next two years in the face of conservative critics furious with his leadership style.
—Mike Lillis, The Hill, 3 Jan. 2025
This year is shaping up to be a nail-biter for Ukraine.
—Astha Rajvanshi, NBC News, 1 Jan. 2025
In the Boundary Waters, winters are now 'nail-biters' for one dogsledding company
Madeline Heim is a Report for America corps reporter who writes about environmental issues in the Mississippi River watershed and across Wisconsin.
—Madeline Heim, Journal Sentinel, 31 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for nail-biter 
Laura Gersony, The Arizona Republic, 3 Jan. 2025
Friday’s Speaker vote is shaping up to be a nail-biter as Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.), the current House leader, is scrambling to keep the gavel for the next two years in the face of conservative critics furious with his leadership style.
—Mike Lillis, The Hill, 3 Jan. 2025
This year is shaping up to be a nail-biter for Ukraine.
—Astha Rajvanshi, NBC News, 1 Jan. 2025
In the Boundary Waters, winters are now 'nail-biters' for one dogsledding company
Madeline Heim is a Report for America corps reporter who writes about environmental issues in the Mississippi River watershed and across Wisconsin.
—Madeline Heim, Journal Sentinel, 31 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for nail-biter
Thesaurus Entries Near nail-biter
Cite this Entry
“Nail-biter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nail-biter. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.
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