Nerve-racking

TENSE

Think of how your muscles might feel when you're under extreme pressure or anxiety. This word also describes a grammatical form used to show ongoing action.

"Nerve-racking" describes something that makes you anxious or on edge, which directly matches the meaning of "tense." The word also works as a synonym—when you're nervous, your muscles might literally become tense, reinforcing the connection. No wordplay or tricks here, just a straightforward definition clue where the answer fits the feeling perfectly.