nerve center

noun

Synonyms of nerve centernext
1
2
: a source of leadership, organization, control, or energy
the financial nerve center of the nation

Examples of nerve center in a Sentence

the economic nerve center of a nation Wall Street's undisputed status as the nerve center for the world of high finance.
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.
The center's nerve center is physically located at police headquarters. Jonathan Limehouse, USA Today, 13 Dec. 2025 La MaMa wouldn’t make its name as a nerve center of avant-garde ingenuity until a few years later, when Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical staged its world premiere there in 1967, and by association La MaMa became a countercultural phenomenon. Literary Hub, 12 Dec. 2025 Six Canadian provinces — including the economic nerve center of Ontario — were banning the import and sale of American beer, wine, and spirits. Kelli María Korducki, thehustle.co, 5 Dec. 2025 Security operations centers have become the nerve center of defense—but also its biggest bottleneck. Tony Bradley, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for nerve center

Word History

First Known Use

1868, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of nerve center was in 1868

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Cite this Entry

“Nerve center.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nerve%20center. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

nerve center

noun

Medical Definition

nerve center

noun
: center
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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