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Definition of nailbiter

nailbiter

/ˈneɪlˌbaɪ.tər/
nail · bi · ter
Plural:nailbiters
•
Adjective:nailbiting
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nailbiter Lexical Profile

nailbiter Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A situation, contest, or story that causes intense suspense, anxiety, or excitement because its outcome remains uncertain until the very end.

Example

"The championship match turned into a real nailbiter that was only decided in the final seconds of overtime."

2

A person who habitually bites their fingernails, typically out of nervousness, stress, or boredom.

Example

"As a lifelong nailbiter, he found it difficult to break the habit before important exams."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for nailbiter
Antonyms
View all antonyms for nailbiter

• Nearby Words

naha
naif
nail
nailbiter
nailbiting
nailbrush
nailer

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Nailbiter. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/nailbiter
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