1
as in gall
shameless boldness
you've got a lot of nerve showing up here
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in courage
strength of mind to carry on in spite of danger
that daring rescue took some nerve
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3
as in shakes
nerves plural
a sense of panic or extreme nervousness
a veteran performer who still gets a case of the nerves before performances
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to brace
to prepare (oneself) mentally or emotionally
needs to nerve himself for the big game tomorrow
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of nerve
Erin Jensen, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2025
There are several types and many possible causes of low blood pressure, including Parkinson's disease, nerve damage from diabetes, advanced age, dehydration, blood loss, pregnancy, heart failure or attack, infection, or a side effect of certain medications.
—Colleen Doherty, Verywell Health, 16 Aug. 2025
Diagnosis usually involves blood tests, nerve tests and a neurological evaluation.
—Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 15 Aug. 2025
The surgery comes with risks, including nerve injury and a loss of range of motion.
—Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 7 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nerve
Noun
Before her first speaking engagement in early 2017 at a private conference in her hometown of Seattle, Amanda Knox wore a blanket of nerves.
—Erin Jensen, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2025
There are several types and many possible causes of low blood pressure, including Parkinson's disease, nerve damage from diabetes, advanced age, dehydration, blood loss, pregnancy, heart failure or attack, infection, or a side effect of certain medications.
—Colleen Doherty, Verywell Health, 16 Aug. 2025
Diagnosis usually involves blood tests, nerve tests and a neurological evaluation.
—Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 15 Aug. 2025
The surgery comes with risks, including nerve injury and a loss of range of motion.
—Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 7 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nerve
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nerve
Noun
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Soak up the gall of losing, absorb the horrible information, feel it to the full, go there—and then rebound, with superb elasticity.—
James Parker,
The Atlantic,
22 July 2025
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And No Real Thorns An element of the posting that has gotten the gall of especially AI ethicists is that the era of AGI and ASI seems to be portrayed as solely uplifting and joyous.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2025
Noun
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The courage to stay invested separates those who enjoy compounding from those who sell at the worst time.—
Robert Daugherty,
Forbes.com,
24 Aug. 2025
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Detroit needs fresh leadership, with the courage to do what career politicians couldn’t.—
Dana Afana,
Freep.com,
23 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Beachfront property owners are bracing Thursday for the worst amid predictions of a storm surge of up to 4 feet and significant coastal erosion.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
22 Aug. 2025
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The storm is not expected to make landfall, but coastal areas on the East Coast are bracing for life-threatening storm surges, high wind and 10-to-20-foot waves.—
Cate Martel,
The Hill,
20 Aug. 2025
Noun
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And still, most new brands enter with a kind of hopeful arrogance, as if a good idea and some nice branding are enough to push past gravity.—
Joel Goldstein,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
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There’s a certain kind of arrogance that doesn’t yell or pound its chest.—
Stephanie Dillon,
Rolling Stone,
7 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Behind her dark wardrobe and dour demeanor lies benevolence and bravery.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
6 Aug. 2025
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These lessons were often one-sided, focusing on the bravery and hardship of the colonizers.—
Shilo Kino
August 4,
Literary Hub,
4 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Earlier in the day, the signing of Lowe, who’d been designated for assignment by the Washington Nationals last week, proved another step in trying to fortify the roster for the postseason.—
Jen McCaffrey,
New York Times,
19 Aug. 2025
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Friday's summit between Trump and Putin in Alaska -- to which Ukrainian representatives were not invited -- ended with Russia demanding that Ukraine cede the entirety of its contested and fortified eastern Donetsk region in exchange for an end to the fighting, two sources told ABC News.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
17 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Few actors make self-torture feel like a kind of heroism.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
15 Aug. 2025
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The Navy plans to name a new Arleigh Burke-class destroyer after Cpl. Kyle Carpenter, a former Camp Pendleton Marine who was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for an act of heroism during vicious fighting in Afghanistan nearly 15 years ago.—
Gary Robbins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Now take another one, just to steel yourself—this story involves crypto and memecoins, after all.—
Nate Anderson,
ArsTechnica,
8 Aug. 2025
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The SailGP fleet is steeling itself for one of the most exciting venues of the season.—
Andrew Rice,
New York Times,
7 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nerve.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nerve. Accessed 31 Aug. 2025.
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