nerve-wracking

See also: nervewracking

English

Etymology

1867,^[1] following earlier nerve-racking (1812).

Adjective

nerve-wracking (comparative more nerve-wracking, superlative most nerve-wracking)

1. (proscribed) Alternative form of nerve-racking
   • 1867 June, “Marriage Sermons and Serenades”, in The Guardian‎, page 172:

     To thrust this grating, screeching, nerve wracking, heart-rending, worse than Pandemonial howling, upon such an occasion, is the climax of cruelty.

   • 1960 June, Cecil J. Allen, “Locomotive Running Past and Present”, in Trains Illustrated, page 368:

     One could hardly commend any of these nerve-wracking exploits; [...].

Usage notes

Etymologically incorrect, but in common use;^[2] strict usage prefers original nerve-racking. See usage notes for rack for details.

References

1. Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “nerve-wracking”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
2. nerve-wracking, nerve-racking at the Google Books Ngram Viewer.

Further reading

• “nerve-wracking”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.