nervous wreck
noun
informal
: a person who is very worried or nervous about something
Before the wedding the bride's father was a nervous wreck.
Examples of nervous wreck in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But no matter how many times the story is rewritten, there is little truth in the popular version of events that Keegan’s words transmitted anxiety to his players, reduced them to nervous wrecks and created the meltdown that ended with the white flag of surrender.
—
Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026
Better to let the audience wait just a bit longer than to step out feeling like a nervous wreck.
—Esade Business & Law School, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
The Final Destination movies merely magnify these commonplace anxieties and ramps them up to the nth degree, leaving you a nervous wreck in the process.
—Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 13 May 2025
Jason arrives to drive Jax to the facility and Jax is a nervous wreck.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2025
Back then, and even now, the assumption is that any 20-year-old rookie entering the major leagues, especially one who didn’t speak English, would be quiet, a bit intimidated, often a nervous wreck.
—Bill Dwyre, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2024
The body, in fact, is not dead at all, and belongs to a gabby, nervous wreck of a kid (Austin Abrams), who happens to be carrying four kilos of heroine in his book bag.
—Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Sep. 2024
Smart Skills Master the art of networking, from entrance to exit
4 steps to go from nervous wreck to networking master.
—Big Think, 24 June 2024
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.
Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026
Better to let the audience wait just a bit longer than to step out feeling like a nervous wreck.
—Esade Business & Law School, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
The Final Destination movies merely magnify these commonplace anxieties and ramps them up to the nth degree, leaving you a nervous wreck in the process.
—Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 13 May 2025
Jason arrives to drive Jax to the facility and Jax is a nervous wreck.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2025
Back then, and even now, the assumption is that any 20-year-old rookie entering the major leagues, especially one who didn’t speak English, would be quiet, a bit intimidated, often a nervous wreck.
—Bill Dwyre, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2024
The body, in fact, is not dead at all, and belongs to a gabby, nervous wreck of a kid (Austin Abrams), who happens to be carrying four kilos of heroine in his book bag.
—Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Sep. 2024
Smart Skills Master the art of networking, from entrance to exit
4 steps to go from nervous wreck to networking master.
—Big Think, 24 June 2024
Cite this Entry
“Nervous wreck.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nervous%20wreck. Accessed 13 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
