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

However, England replacements Henry Pollock and Emmanuel Iyogun were next to be sent to the sin-bin, making for a nervy finish.

From BBC ● Jul. 18, 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

You are acting like a nervy five-year-old, I told myself.

From "The Darkest Minds" by Alexandra Bracken

It was a nervier finish than Arteta would have wanted, but the 41-year-old cut a very happy figure at full time as his side stretched their winning run in all competitions to five matches.

From BBC ● Dec. 2, 2023

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

The scion of a prominent Hollywood family thus became a lanky, long-haired icon of countercultural rebellion, an exemplar of a newer, nervier Hollywood that would chase away the creaky, hoary spirit of the old.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 17, 2019

"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

“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

It was splendid, Glad—the nerviest thing I ever saw.

From Samuel the Seeker by Sinclair, Upton