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Synonyms

nervousness

American  
[nur-vuhs-nis] / ˈnɜr vəs nɪs /

noun

  1. 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.

"I could feel the nervousness inside the stadium," Slot said, after a strange game where Liverpool were clinical if not always in control.

From BBC • Feb. 28, 2026

It's no wonder nervousness mixes with the creative buzz.

From Barron's • Feb. 18, 2026

To challenge that, he made Clark Kent a nerd, hunching his shoulders, making him sputter with nervousness.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 7, 2026

Women who had gone through menopause were more likely than those who had not to seek help from a GP or psychiatrist for anxiety, nervousness, or depression.

From Science Daily • Feb. 7, 2026

According to Ms. Bethune the results of the competition had been mailed out earlier in the week, and Fadi’s nervousness was growing, despite his attempt at patience.

From "Shooting Kabul" by N. H. Senzai

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.