edgy
Americanadjective
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nervously irritable; impatient and anxious.
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sharp-edged; sharply defined, as outlines.
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daringly innovative; on the cutting edge.
adjective
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(usually postpositive) nervous, irritable, tense, or anxious
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(of paintings, drawings, etc) excessively defined
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innovative, or at the cutting edge, with the concomitant qualities of intensity and excitement
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of edgy
Explanation
If you're edgy, you're uptight, tense, or anxious. You might find yourself getting nervous and edgy right before you take a difficult test. A tendency to get edgy — irritable and jittery — might be a result of too much coffee, or just a personality trait. It's not a very helpful habit in most cases, leading you to snap at other people or just feel tense. An informal way to use edgy is to mean "experimental or daring." In the 18th century, something edgy literally had sharp edges, but by the early 1800s it came to mean "tense and irritable."
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.
See Examples For:
However, traders remain edgy and tech firms once again saw big moves Monday, with Seoul swinging from a near two percent gain to a more than two percent loss.
From Barron's ● Jul. 6, 2026
They’re expressive of their times without being showily edgy.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 20, 2026
After such an edgy contest, the sizeable Scotland contingent at Boston Stadium celebrated wildly at the full-time whistle, having seen their country's fifth ever win at World Cup finals and only their fourth clean sheet.
From BBC ● Jun. 14, 2026
The sheer existence of “Stop! That! Train!” is a statement more edgy than anything in “Scary Movie.”
From Salon ● Jun. 11, 2026
In the decade that followed, an edgy peace between labor and management settled on our town, broken only by intermittent strikes, usually quickly settled.
From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam
She was known for her raspy vocals, offering listeners an edgier sound that also melded rock and pop.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 9, 2026
Belgium had that natural edge, and then, a crazy episode made them edgier.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026
Fan favorites Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo return in this slightly edgier ‘NCIS’ offshoot set in foreign locations.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 24, 2026
So whether you want family-friendly fare, holiday vibes, relaxing release or edgier escapism – there’s plenty to check out.
From Salon ● Dec. 24, 2025
In another reality, Leo might’ve enjoyed a walk on the beach with a pretty girl, but the farther they went, the edgier he felt.
From "The Mark of Athena" by Rick Riordan
Every Disney movie raises us to recognize that villains always get the best lines, the edgiest wardrobes and, sometimes, the most darling pets.
From Salon ● Jan. 28, 2026
The result is a strong culinary heritage that even the edgiest chefs hold sacred — and, of course, draws food worshipers from around the world.
From New York Times ● Jul. 19, 2022
And there’s one of the edgiest tracks yet from the band — “Cutthroat,” an anthem about killing the critic inside of you.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 30, 2021
It remains one of SNL’s edgiest efforts to date.
From Washington Post ● May 20, 2021
As most of the elder statesmen and women of comedy take the stage at the gloriously retro Theatre at Ace Hotel, it likely won’t be the weirdest or edgiest night.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 6, 2020
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
