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.

---

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

---

Other Word Forms

• nerviness
  noun
• nervily
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of nervy

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

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

Tim Waterer of KCM Trade said: "Traders remain somewhat nervy about the scale of the capex being committed, given lingering concerns over how long the return-on-investment phase may take to fully materialise."

From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026

Despite the nervy conclusion, the U.S. finds itself on a historic run at this World Cup.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026

Amid huge outlays on its war in Ukraine, tax rises, stubborn inflation and nervy consumers are all weighing on Russia's small companies.

From Barron's ● Jun. 30, 2026

Wagler smiled in relief as he walked across the room, a welcome change after a nervy first 40 minutes of the draft.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 24, 2026

"I'm a little nervy about it," Brett said.

From "The Sun Also Rises" by Ernest Hemingway

That was followed by a hold to love for American third seed Fritz, which set up a nervier finish than Draper would have hoped for.

From BBC ● Mar. 13, 2025

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

Seidel is among the rare poets who’ve become noticeably better — nervier, more tricksy and electric — as they’ve slid into old age.

From New York Times ● Feb. 8, 2021

"It would take a nervier gang than Arizona owns to try and rob this outfit," and Blake looked complacently around among the shadowy forms of the troopers flitting about the bivouac.

From A Wounded Name by King, Charles

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

It was the nerviest, funniest thing I had seen,” wrote late-night TV star Conan O’Brien.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 12, 2022

“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

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

Let me tell you, that fellow's a man, just the same; the gamest, nerviest man I ever saw.

From Bob Hampton of Placer by Parrish, Randall