nerve-racking
Americanadjective
adjective
Etymology
Origin of nerve-racking
First recorded in 1805–15
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"That was the most nerve-racking 800 of my life," O'Connor said.
From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026
“It’s nerve-racking and worth watching,” he said, with margin debt likely targeting areas of the market with momentum.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 13, 2026
“It was a very nerve-racking experience, of course, but it was also very exciting. You can tell I’m a little bit thrilled,” Weist told me.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2026
But as one nerve-racking challenge ended, another was only beginning.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 22, 2026
The jump from one ship to the other was nerve-racking, but Nailer was determined not to show any fear.
From "Ship Breaker" by Paolo Bacigalupi
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
