nerve-racking

Or nerve-wrack·ing

[nurv-rak-ing]

adjective

1. extremely irritating, annoying, or trying.

   a nerve-racking day; a nerve-racking noise.

nerve-racking

adjective

1. very distressing, exhausting, or harrowing

Word History and Origins

Origin of nerve-racking¹

First recorded in 1805–15

Example Sentences

Was it nerve-racking to stage a new exhibition?

From Los Angeles Times

The court acknowledged that determining Mr Veevers' final resting place was "nerve-racking" because of the absence of formal legislative provisions to guide burial disputes in Kenya.

From BBC

That uncertainty up front might be nerve-racking to some.

From Los Angeles Times

“I thought going into it would be very nerve-racking, but they were really welcoming,” Zamora says.

From Los Angeles Times

Trust me, I know the sting of being told something is “easy,” only to wind up cussing-mad because, sure, it didn’t require calculus — but it was still time-consuming, nerve-racking and deeply frustrating.

From Salon

Related Words

• annoying 
• stressful 
• trying