Synonyms

nervousness

American

[nur-vuhs-nis] / ˈnɜr vəs nɪs /

noun

the state or condition of being highly, acutely, or unnaturally uneasy or excitable.

There is always an element of nervousness or stage fright in public speaking.
High levels of thyroid hormones can cause side effects such as weight loss, rapid heart rate, and nervousness.

Other Word Forms

nonnervousness noun
overnervousness noun
seminervousness noun
unnervousness noun

Etymology

Origin of nervousness

nervous ( def. ) + -ness ( def. )

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.

This has been met with nervousness and opprobrium among Greenlanders - both on the world's largest island and elsewhere.

From BBC

The deep-seated nervousness in Europe right now is palpable.

From BBC

The number of plain-clothes military intelligence officers present there helps explain their nervousness.

From BBC

It suggests a nervousness among investors at the start of the final full trading week of 2025.

From Barron's

And while investors naturally expressed initial nervousness at the deal’s size and ambition, its long-term logic is clear.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023