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.
"Being on the stand might be nerve-racking, but our futures and our rights are worth standing up for," she told AFP.
From Barron's ● Oct. 26, 2026
"It was also a bit nerve-racking as anyone who has applied software updates before would know, there's always a chance than an update can cause other issues," he said.
From BBC ● Oct. 23, 2026
“That was nerve-racking for us watching from a distance,” said Lovelace, who has also worked with Southern on documentaries about Blur and LCD Soundsystem.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026
It was nerve-racking for her to get on stage, in front of friends and family members and talk about her struggles with mental health but it was also liberating.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026
It might have been a comical scene in a film, but at the time it was nerve-racking.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
