Synonyms Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for nervous on Thesaurus.com highly excitable; unnaturally or acutely uneasy or apprehensive: to become nervous under stress. of or relating to the nerves : nervous tension. affecting the nerves : nervous diseases. suffering from, characterized by, or originating in disordered nerves . characterized by or attended with acute uneasiness or apprehension: a nervous moment for us all. having or containing nerves . sinewy or strong. Archaic vigorous or spirited. Show More
Origin of nervous 1350–1400; Middle English <
Latin nervōsus sinewy, equivalent to
nerv(us )
nerve +
-ōsus -ous Related forms nerv·ous·ly , adverb nerv·ous·ness , noun non·ner·vous , adjective non·ner·vous·ly , adverb non·ner·vous·ness , noun o·ver·nerv·ous , adjective o·ver·nerv·ous·ly , adverb o·ver·nerv·ous·ness , noun sem·i·nerv·ous , adjective sem·i·nerv·ous·ly , adverb sem·i·nerv·ous·ness , noun un·nerv·ous , adjective un·nerv·ous·ly , adverb un·nerv·ous·ness , noun Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words for nervous shaky ,
apprehensive ,
irritable ,
afraid ,
concerned ,
volatile ,
agitated ,
hysterical ,
jumpy ,
weak ,
uneasy ,
uptight ,
tense ,
timid ,
hesitant ,
skittish ,
shy ,
edgy ,
jittery ,
annoyed Examples from the Web for nervous Contemporary Examples of nervous 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?
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.
He's watching it because of his fondness for Bergman and because, he says, “She'll be nervous about my opinion.”
Historical Examples of nervous Hipparete blushed, and with a quick and nervous motion touched her cithara.
Don't let them see you get nervous when they turn out of the coaches.
It made her interlace her fingers with nervous anxiety, but it set a fire in her eyes.
And the sight of his white face and his nervous right hand was too much for them.
The girl's answer was uttered with nervous eagerness which revealed her own stress of fear.
British Dictionary definitions for nervous very excitable or sensitive; highly strung (often foll by of) apprehensive or worried I'm nervous of traffic of, relating to, or containing nerves; neural nervous tissue affecting the nerves or nervous tissue a nervous disease archaic active, vigorous, or forceful Show More
Derived Forms nervously , adverb nervousness , noun Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for nervous adj. c.1400, "affecting the sinews," from Latin nervosus "sinewy, vigorous," from nervus "sinew, nerve" (see nerve ). Meaning "of or belonging to the nerves" in the modern sense is from 1660s. Meaning "suffering disorder of the nervous system" is from 1734; illogical sense "restless, agitated, lacking nerve" is 1740. Widespread popular use as a euphemism for mental forced the medical community to coin neurological to replace it in the older sense. Nervous wreck first attested 1862. Related: Nervously ; nervousness .
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Of or relating to the nerves or nervous system. Stemming from or affecting the nerves or nervous system, as a disease. Easily agitated or distressed. Show More
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
