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nerve-wracking

nerve-wracking

18 6.1
Causes a lot of worry and stress
  • adjective
  • /ˈnɜrvˌrækɪŋ/
  • Informal
translation icon : estresante
  • Waiting for the surgery was nerve-wracking, but they finally wheeled me into the operating room.

And speaking in front of people is like one of the most nerve wracking things you'll ever I'll ever do.

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Examples

  • Well, this is going to be a nerve-wracking conversation.

  • Planning a wedding can be challenging and nerve-wracking, especially when all the problems that can arise are considered.

    Blog text (12)
  • Must be nerve-wracking living with that condition.

  • That sounds like a nerve-wracking job.

  • And it was a lot of fun, though nerve-wracking to put this list together.

    Blog text (4)
  • I love meeting people for the first time, even if it is nerve-wracking initially.

    Blog text (32)
  • Dealing with a bad boss can be one of the most nerve-wracking events of your career.

    Blog text (3)
  • Finally, we'll help you straight through the closing process, which can be a nerve-wracking experience.

    Blog text (6)
  • This is one of the most nerve wracking things you've ever done, I imagine.

  • Talking to the board about my proposal was a nerve-wracking experience.

Synonyms

stressful
vsnerve-wracking
167 2.8

Making you feel very worried or nervous

is stronger, causing great anxiety rather than general worry
nerve-racking
vsnerve-wracking
  • Informal
20 5.0

Makes you feel very worried and tense

has identical meaning but is spelled differently
gut-wrenching
vsnerve-wracking
15 7.4

That makes you feel very sad and upset

is more about nerve stress and anxiety than emotional anguish
trying
vsnerve-wracking
1 5.1

Hard to deal with and making people feel tired or annoyed

is much stronger, causing extreme anxiety or distress instead of mere irritation

Antonyms

735 1.0

Not showing strong feelings and being very still

easy-breezy
  • Informal
1 6.1

Simple and relaxed, not difficult or serious

How Stressful

traumatic
154 6.3
nerve-wracking
  • Informal
18 6.1
stressful
167 2.8
troubling
154 4.0
unsettling
64 4.2

Surface Forms

nerve-wracking positive

Morphology

nerve-wracking = nerve + wrack (transparent) = nerve + wrack + ing

The adjective is directly built from 'nerve' + 'wrack' (to torment) with -ing, so the meaning 'causing the nerves to be wracked' is recoverable from the parts.

Etymology

The word nerve-wracking paints a picture of the nerve being racked, 'pushed or twisted until it hurts', like a tense, painful feeling. So, something that is nerve-wracking causes great anxiety or stress.