jittery

adjective

jit·​tery ˈji-tə-rē How to pronounce jittery (audio)
Synonyms of jitterynext
1
: suffering from the jitters
2
: marked by jittering movements
jitteriness noun

Examples of jittery in a Sentence

I always get jittery when I have to give a speech. The latest economic news has made some investors jittery.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This adds a burst of non-jittery energy to your morning. Bestreviews, Mercury News, 7 May 2026 Though Cooper did not clarify if the ceasefire between Washington and Tehran was now over, a raft of attacks throughout Monday spiked fears that the war would restart, spurring sharp price increases in already-jittery energy markets. Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2026 Peli Motto Tatooine's quirkiest space mechanic is also its coolest, with a bunch of jittery repair droids and tons of warm personality. Brian Truitt, USA Today, 3 May 2026 Energy Drinks Many energy drinks contain a lot of caffeine, which can leave you feeling jittery and anxious. Jillian Kubala, Health, 30 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for jittery

Word History

First Known Use

1931, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of jittery was in 1931

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Jittery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jittery. Accessed 18 May. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on jittery

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster