1
as in worried
feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty
he was nervous about how he would do at the varsity basketball tryouts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in uneasy
marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings
a nervous silence filled the room as the teacher handed out the graded exams
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in excitable
easily excited by nature
a nervous sort of person, she's completely thrown by anything unexpected
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of nervous
The plans have raised espionage fears, rattled locals in the area nervous for their personal security, and come at a time when bounties have been issued by Beijing for Hong Kongers in the UK.
—
Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2025
Reducing stress levels and finding ways to manage anxiety can usually help ease or prevent nervous poops.
—Lindsay Curtis, Health, 5 Aug. 2025
Republican legislators in Austin have redrawn the Lone Star State's congressional maps after pressure from the president's political operatives, who are nervous that Democrats might win control of the House – as is customary for the party out of power – in 2026.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2025
But amid all the excitement, both Darcey and Georgi seemed nervous about how the trip would go.
—Abigail Adams, People.com, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nervous
Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2025
Reducing stress levels and finding ways to manage anxiety can usually help ease or prevent nervous poops.
—Lindsay Curtis, Health, 5 Aug. 2025
Republican legislators in Austin have redrawn the Lone Star State's congressional maps after pressure from the president's political operatives, who are nervous that Democrats might win control of the House – as is customary for the party out of power – in 2026.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2025
But amid all the excitement, both Darcey and Georgi seemed nervous about how the trip would go.
—Abigail Adams, People.com, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nervous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nervous
Adjective
-
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel, however, didn’t necessarily appear worried when asked what joint practices taught him about his cornerbacks.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
17 Aug. 2025
-
Many were worried about stripping precipitation out of a cloud and robbing people downstream of rain.—
Hayleigh Evans,
AZCentral.com,
17 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Unlike taking space to cool down, which is a much healthier strategy, the silent treatment is used specifically to make the other partner feel uneasy.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
25 Aug. 2025
-
The pair form an uneasy and sometimes humorous alliance while uncovering a drug ring revolving around a dangerous alien narcotic.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
24 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
For example, knowing that excitable dogs might overreact to moving images can inform desensitization approaches.—
Jenny Lehmann,
Discover Magazine,
17 July 2025
-
Willie Garson brought ample laughs in Freaky Friday as Evan, an excitable patient of Curtis' Tess.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
9 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The vices of deficiency, such as being anxious, agitated, impatient, inattentive, and rash, are common everyday experiences.—
Mary Crossan,
Forbes.com,
16 Aug. 2025
-
Orange County students are returning to class this month as districts navigate an anxious back-to-school season shaped by immigration raids over the summer and the possibility that attendance drops could cut into school funding.—
Hanna Kang,
Oc Register,
15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Take the tense scene inside a packed auditorium in Lincoln, Nebraska, recently, where Republican Rep. Mike Flood faced hundreds of constituents during an August 4 town hall.—
Saige Miller,
NPR,
15 Aug. 2025
-
Following tense campus protests and intense scrutiny from the federal government, Columbia University will start considering a civil-discourse credential as part of its undergraduate admissions process.—
Cayla Bamberger,
New York Daily News,
15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Was Elvis upset that his friend disappeared to hang out with The Beatles?—
Kim Willis,
USA Today,
25 Aug. 2025
-
Tucker didn’t seem too upset that the Cubs didn’t disclose the results of a second imaging test that discovered a small fracture in his right hand.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Not sure what’s funnier and more disturbing, Sweet Tooth’s urine test coming back as a black goo, or Axel not allowing a blood sample, presumably because his blood is gasoline.—
Rafael Motamayor,
Vulture,
14 Aug. 2025
-
In the spring, Linda appeared in a disturbing social media video lifting the lid on the dysfunction in the family.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Heading into earnings, many on Wall Street remain apprehensive of the stock and are waiting for more proof.—
Lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
29 July 2025
-
Instead, that first apprehensive meeting planted the seeds of Pride Social South County, one of the few groups in southern Santa Clara County dedicated to the LGBTQ+ community.—
Luis Melecio-Zambrano,
Mercury News,
28 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nervous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nervous. Accessed 28 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share