nervous
[nur-vuh s]
- 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.
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Origin of nervous
Synonyms
See more synonyms for nervous on Thesaurus.com1. fearful, timid, timorous.
Antonyms
1. confident, bold.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for nervousness
Contemporary Examples
Others on the RSD forum would deconstruct his approach: “too aggressive,” “too many questions,” “nervousness in your voice,” etc.
Her nervousness about its content made her decide to publish it under a pseudonym, for reasons that would later become clear.
His brown eyes were penetrating yet peaceful, and he immediately disarmed my nervousness with his gentleness.
When Gary Wright Met George Harrison: Dream Weaver, John and Yoko, and MoreGary Wright
September 29, 2014
Adding to the nervousness are mixed messages from those who are supposed to be in the know.
They helped keep my nervousness and dread at a low boil, as I began to write a book about a writer at my age.
Historical Examples
It is nothing but nervousness and fright at that horrible firing.
In the Midst of AlarmsRobert Barr
Suddenly she tore it open, her hands unsteady with nervousness.
The Fortune HunterLouis Joseph Vance
A cold rage of nervousness beset her, so overpowering that she herself was amazed at it.
Tiverton TalesAlice Brown
She misunderstood: he laughed, but his nervousness was genuine.
Alice AdamsBooth Tarkington
Lately, he had half confessed to her what a nervousness she had produced.
Alice AdamsBooth Tarkington
nervous
- very excitable or sensitive; highly strung
- (often foll by of) apprehensive or worriedI'm nervous of traffic
- of, relating to, or containing nerves; neuralnervous tissue
- affecting the nerves or nervous tissuea nervous disease
- archaic active, vigorous, or forceful
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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
Word Origin and History for nervousness
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
nervous
(nûr′vəs)- 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.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.