nervous

ner·vous

adj \ˈnər-vəs\

Definition of NERVOUS

1

archaic : sinewy, strong

2

: marked by strength of thought, feeling, or style : spirited <a vibrant tight-packed nervous style of writing>

3

: of, relating to, or composed of neurons

4

a : of or relating to the nerves; also : originating in or affected by the nerves <nervous energy> b : easily excited or irritated : jumpy c : timid, apprehensive <a nervous smile> <nervous of strangers>

5

a : tending to produce nervousness or agitation : uneasy <a nervous situation> b : appearing or acting unsteady, erratic, or irregular —used of inanimate things

— ner·vous·ly adverb

— ner·vous·ness noun

Examples of NERVOUS

1. She is nervous about her job interview.
2. All this waiting is making me nervous.
3. He gave a nervous glance at the clock.
4. His nervous mother is always worrying that something terrible will happen to him.
5. He has a nervous disposition.
6. It was a very nervous situation.
7. She suffers from a nervous disorder.
8. He walked around with a nervous twitch.
9. He had a nervous habit of pulling at his hair.
10. The boy has a lot of nervous energy.

First Known Use of NERVOUS

14th century

Related to NERVOUS

Synonyms: aflutter, antsy, anxious, atwitter, dithery, edgy, goosey, het up, hinky [slang], hung up, ill at ease, insecure, jittery, jumpy, nervy, perturbed, queasy (also queazy), tense, troubled, uneasy, unquiet, upset, uptight, worried, keyed up, on edge, on pins and needles, on tenterhooks

Antonyms: calm, collected, cool, easy, happy-go-lucky, nerveless, relaxed

Related Words: aggrieved, bothered, concerned, disquieted, distraught, distressed, disturbed, freaked, freaked-out, shook-up; apprehensive, foreboding, hesitant, misgiving; fretful, fretting, stewing, vexed; qualmish, qualmy; flustered, twittered, undone, unnerved, unstrung; obsessed, preoccupied, restless; fidgety, flighty, fluttery, high-strung, hypertense, skittish, spooky

Near Antonyms: confident, self-assured, self-confident, sure; controlled, self-controlled

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See Synonym Discussion at vigorous

Rhymes with NERVOUS

service