nervy

American  

[nur-vee] / ˈnɜr vi /

adjective

nervier, nerviest

1. brashly presumptuous or insolent; pushy.

   a nervy thing to say; a nervy trick to pull.

2. having or showing courage; brave or bold.

   the nervy feats of the mountaineers.

3. strong; sinewy; vigorous.

   a hard, nervy physique.

4. Chiefly British. straining one's patience or forbearance; trying.

5. nervous; excitable; on edge.

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nervy British  

/ ˈnɜːvɪ /

adjective

1. informal tense or apprehensive

2. having or needing bravery or endurance

3. informal brash or cheeky

4. archaic muscular; sinewy

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Other Word Forms

• nerviness
  noun
• nervily
  adverb

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Etymology

Origin of nervy

First recorded in 1600–10; nerve + -y ¹

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Explanation

If you're nervy, you're so outspoken and brave that you're almost rude. A nervy student isn't afraid to ask even the grouchiest teacher to explain why he's giving so much homework on a Friday. You can use nervy to simply mean "brave," but it usually carries the implication of being a bit of a smart aleck. Your nervy questions at a job interview might be seen as refreshingly straightforward, or simply cheeky and impudent. Sometimes nervy instead means "nervous," like a nervy tightrope walker who trembles and shakes with fear, but this meaning is more common in Britain than in the U.S.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

nervy nervier nerviest

Even Cunha's sending off soon after, which ensured a nervy ending, would not deny United a first win in 10, bringing some respite after a dreadful few weeks.

From BBC ● Nov. 4, 2026

He does, however, participate in a brutally funny verbal tussle with his character’s nervy wife, played by Parker Posey, as she attracts attention from other CIA operatives.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 4, 2026

Across an itinerant urgency of walks, drives, embraces, laughs, threats, nervy meetings, shared meals, phone calls and tearful testimony, Loktev’s immersive portrait of roving defiance is as necessary as nonfiction gets.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026

Suddenly, in September, Maye was looking like a nervy junior varsity quarterback.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026

My nervy stomach churned at the mention of all the food and desserts.

From "From Twinkle, with Love" by Sandhya Menon

Scotland saw it out from there in a finale that was nervier than they imagined it would be, but was convincing nonetheless.

From BBC ● Mar. 8, 2025

What’s different this time is a nervier story centered on elections and upheaval, sure to resonate with anyone on edge about the tenuousness of civilization.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 9, 2024

Outfitted in progressively more luscious frocks by Susan Hilferty, Feldstein makes a journey from nervy tyro to nervier pro.

From Washington Post ● Apr. 24, 2022

Military flashpoints or related energy price shocks and power blackouts in Europe and elsewhere could make for an even nervier year-end than usual.

From Reuters ● Nov. 17, 2021

You'll go getting older and older and nervier and nervier, till you're so nervy that even the old ladies won't have you any more.

From The Immortal Moment The Story of Kitty Tailleur by May Sinclair

The nerviest moment for Norris came after his first pit stop, when he came up behind Tsunoda in a battle for third place.

From BBC ● Dec. 7, 2025

“She rose fast in a business that was then dominated by men. She outmanned many of them: she was the toughest negotiator, the bluntest adversary, the nerviest deal maker,” Orlean writes.

From The New Yorker ● Nov. 24, 2019

For those who hoped Cannes would shake things up further still with its freshest, nerviest, most unpredictable slate in years, the festival did not disappoint.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 12, 2018

Like all the nerviest and best auditions, this special was self-serving in the extreme, and teetered on the edge of failing.

From Time ● May 17, 2016

And yet—the men in the trained-animal game acknowledged him the nerviest and most nerveless of the profession. 

From Michael, Brother of Jerry by Jack London

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