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View synonyms for nervous

nervous

[nur-vuhs]

adjective

  1. highly excitable; unnaturally or acutely uneasy or apprehensive.

    to become nervous under stress.

    Antonyms: bold, confident
  2. of or relating to the nerves.

    nervous tension.

  3. affecting the nerves.

    nervous diseases.

  4. experiencing, characterized by, or originating in a nervous system disorder.

  5. characterized by or attended with acute uneasiness or apprehension.

    a nervous moment for us all.

  6. having or containing nerves.

  7. sinewy or strong.

  8. Archaic.,  vigorous or spirited.



nervous

/ ˈnɜːvəs /

adjective

  1. very excitable or sensitive; highly strung

  2. (often foll by of) apprehensive or worried

    I'm nervous of traffic

  3. of, relating to, or containing nerves; neural

    nervous tissue

  4. affecting the nerves or nervous tissue

    a nervous disease

  5. archaic,  active, vigorous, or forceful

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Word Forms

  • nervously adverb
  • nervousness noun
  • nonnervous adjective
  • nonnervously adverb
  • overnervous adjective
  • overnervously adverb
  • seminervous adjective
  • seminervously adverb
  • unnervous adjective
  • unnervously adverb
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Word History and Origins

Origin of nervous1

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin nervōsus “sinewy,” equivalent to nerv(us) nerve + -ōsus -ous
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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.

But Burr seemed much more nervous, he said, and stuck to tried-and-tested jokes about his wife and kids.

From BBC

"It's a very clear demonstration that there's a surge in militancy and that involves a very significant number of people. The government is under pressure and I think it's nervous."

From BBC

“I’m excited to hear them and also very nervous.”

I'm already at a point where I'm kind of nervous because government shutdowns don't help anyone.

From BBC

"He's such a natural, just in life, he's just never been nervous about anything in his entire life, so it's pretty fun," she told Bunton and Theakston.

From BBC

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nervositynervous breakdown