Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for nervous

nervous

[ nur-vuhs ]

adjective

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

    to become nervous under stress.

    Synonyms: timorous, timid, tense, neurotic, anxious

    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


Discover More

Derived Forms

  • ˈnervousness, noun
  • ˈnervously, adverb
Discover More

Other Words From

  • nerv·ous·ly adverb
  • nerv·ous·ness noun
  • non·ner·vous adjective
  • non·ner·vous·ly adverb
  • o·ver·nerv·ous adjective
  • o·ver·nerv·ous·ly adverb
  • sem·i·nerv·ous adjective
  • sem·i·nerv·ous·ly adverb
  • un·nerv·ous adjective
  • un·nerv·ous·ly adverb
Discover More

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
Discover More

Example Sentences

So I went through training for about a year of meditation work, of breath work, of learning restorative yoga poses, learning the difference between the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system.

From Ozy

The 12-point form has made many families nervous, and special education attorneys Huntsberry spoke with said there is some cause for concern.

Democrats, who went to court immediately to challenge this, saw it as evidence that Republicans are nervous.

Poor glucose control, the hallmark of diabetes, can lead to all sorts of issues with the kidney, heart, liver, and nervous system.

If I’m going to put myself in the shoes of a 19-year-old, I might be nervous to tell someone like me who I was hanging out with as well.

In this nervous city in an embattled country, even small explosions can have a big impact.

Are you excited, nervous, afraid, all of the above for the new Star Wars films?

It drains your body of nutrients and vitamins, attacking the central nervous system and leaving you in a dehydrated, hazy state.

Nervous fans can keep a vigilant eye on it via a webcam hosted on the town website that offers 24-hour goat viewing.

Truth be told, there is no one better at capturing the agony and alarm of a woman in the throes of a nervous breakdown than Moore.

Drowned every few seconds by our tremendous salvoes, this more nervous noise crept back insistently into our ears in the interval.

It is low in chronic interstitial nephritis, diabetes insipidus, and many functional nervous disorders.

Their glances met, she holding him always at arm's length by that grip upon his shoulders, a grip that was firm and nervous.

Then a nervous, anxious feeling that takes away my appetite, and prevents me from eating my dinner.

When we came in he looked indisposed and nervous, and there happened to be a good many artists there.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


nervositynervous breakdown