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.
That said, investors could have just been jittery amid the narrative of an apparent AI bubble, and were spooked by any sign of bad news. Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 15 Dec. 2025 The track also spawned one of 2025's most exhilarating music videos, boasting immaculately jittery choreography and a nightmarish atmosphere that looks as sinister and fun as the song sounds. Jason Lamphier, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Dec. 2025 Markets have been jittery for months about massive spending on AI data centers, worried that revenue won’t keep pace with the outlay and create a bubble. Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 3 Dec. 2025 Some foreign productions have also been jittery about Georgia’s proximity to Russia, which invaded Ukraine in 2022 — and in 2008 entered Georgia itself. Dan Bilefsky, HollywoodReporter, 12 Nov. 2025 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

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Cite this Entry

“Jittery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jittery. Accessed 16 Dec. 2025.

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