the jitters
plural noun
informal
: a very nervous feeling
I always get (a bad case of) the jitters before I have to give a speech.
Examples of the jitters in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Let’s start leaning on those guys, get the jitters out, relax.
—
Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 2 June 2026
Setting the tone for policy guidance is right within the chair's wheelhouse, and Warsh could try to diminish market expectations that the Fed is going to crank up asset purchases when Wall Street starts to get the jitters.
—Jeff Cox, CNBC, 22 May 2026
Stewart, who has Tennessee Medicaid, said Bowens shepherded her through the jitters of early pregnancy with her twin sons, blood pressure issues during delivery, a C-section and baby blues after birth.
—Laura Ungar, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
On a team known for its two offensive-minded stars, Anunoby’s ability to give opposing offenses the jitters while dictating his own offense isn’t a combination that can be replicated by anyone else on the roster — not to the degree that the best version of Anunoby can do it, at least.
—James L. Edwards Iii, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2026
Growing concerns about private credit — an alternative to the bank debt being arranged for EA — has added to the jitters.
—Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 2 Mar. 2026
By Friday, the jitters had spread — with private credit worries, a hotter-than-expected inflation print, and Middle East fears pushing the S&P 500 to its worst month since March.
—Lu Wang, Bloomberg, 27 Feb. 2026
The Islamic Republic has the jitters.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 20 Feb. 2026
And some have pointed to Oracle as, well, a potential oracle of the jitters.
—John Kell, Fortune, 26 Nov. 2025
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Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 2 June 2026
Setting the tone for policy guidance is right within the chair's wheelhouse, and Warsh could try to diminish market expectations that the Fed is going to crank up asset purchases when Wall Street starts to get the jitters.
—Jeff Cox, CNBC, 22 May 2026
Stewart, who has Tennessee Medicaid, said Bowens shepherded her through the jitters of early pregnancy with her twin sons, blood pressure issues during delivery, a C-section and baby blues after birth.
—Laura Ungar, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
On a team known for its two offensive-minded stars, Anunoby’s ability to give opposing offenses the jitters while dictating his own offense isn’t a combination that can be replicated by anyone else on the roster — not to the degree that the best version of Anunoby can do it, at least.
—James L. Edwards Iii, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2026
Growing concerns about private credit — an alternative to the bank debt being arranged for EA — has added to the jitters.
—Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 2 Mar. 2026
By Friday, the jitters had spread — with private credit worries, a hotter-than-expected inflation print, and Middle East fears pushing the S&P 500 to its worst month since March.
—Lu Wang, Bloomberg, 27 Feb. 2026
The Islamic Republic has the jitters.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 20 Feb. 2026
And some have pointed to Oracle as, well, a potential oracle of the jitters.
—John Kell, Fortune, 26 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“The jitters.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20jitters. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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