pinched nerve

noun

plural pinched nerves

: a nerve or nerve root (as in the spine or wrist) that is compressed by surrounding tissue (as of tendon, bone, or cartilage) often as a result of injury, inflammation, or degenerative changes and that causes pain, tingling, numbness, or muscle weakness

Carpal tunnel syndrome caused by a pinched nerve in the wrist usually affects the thumb and index and middle fingers.

—Courtney Humphries

… has weathered agony in recent months because of the pinched nerves, which have sporadically sent sharp jolts of pain through his legs.

—Geoff Boucher

Examples of pinched nerve in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Over the years, astronauts have faced health challenges like blood clots, health colds, pinched nerves and more. —Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 9 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1866, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for pinched nerve

• conserve
• deserve
• manoeuvre
• observe
• preserve
• reserve
• subserve
• curve
• mirv
• serve
• swerve
• verve

Medical Definition

pinched nerve

noun

: a nerve or nerve root (as in the spine or wrist) that is compressed by surrounding tissue (as of tendon, bone, or cartilage) often as a result of injury, inflammation, or degenerative changes and that causes pain, tingling, numbness, or muscle weakness