nervy

adjective

ˈnər-vē 

nervier; nerviest

1

archaic : sinewy, strong

2

a

: showing or expressive of calm courage : bold

b

: marked by effrontery or presumption : brash

3

: excitable, nervous

nervily

ˈnər-və-lē 

adverb

nerviness

ˈnər-vē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• wise
• cheeky
• bold
• cocky
• impudent
• brazen
• brassy
• fresh
• saucy
• sassy
• defiant
• insolent
• cocksure
• blunt
• assertive
• audacious
• brash
• impertinent

Examples of nervy in a Sentence

a nervy performance in the play-offs

a nervy film director who's not afraid to take risks

The passengers were restless and nervy after the long flight.

Too much coffee makes me nervy.

Recent Examples on the Web

The thriller — more horrific than straight-up scary — is worth checking out, if only for the late Brittany Murphy's nervy turn as a razor-wielding woman confined to a sanatorium. —Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Oct. 2025

And McConaughey, as a nervy reluctant hero, steers the searing, intense narrative about normal people living through the most hellish of circumstances. —Brian Truitt, USA Today, 2 Oct. 2025

The Yankees quite literally slid past the Red Sox, 4-3, forcing a third game in what’s been a nervy series. —Chris Branch, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025

The times have seldom been more hostile toward political mythmaking as nervy as this, or blockbuster intelligence of this scale. —Justin Chang, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for nervy

• curvy
• scurvy

Kids Definition

nervy

adjective

ˈnər-vē 

nervier; nerviest

1

a

: showing calm courage : fearless

b

: rudely bold

a nervy salesperson

2

: excitable sense 1, nervous

nerviness noun