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.
Investors remain jittery about the impact of artificial intelligence. Dylan Butts, CNBC, 18 Feb. 2026 This innate expansiveness often makes for an optimistic demeanor, but that same energy can feel jittery if stifled. Maressa Brown, InStyle, 15 Feb. 2026 Now, however, the relationship between the two variables is completely scrambled with no discernable pattern, and Slok sees it as yet another sign investors are getting jittery about the state of the economy. Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 11 Feb. 2026 The pace is a visceral reflection of both AI’s rapid progress and Roher’s jittery state of mind. Caryn James, HollywoodReporter, 28 Jan. 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 20 Feb. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on jittery

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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