as in anxiety
a state of nervousness marked by sudden jerky movements
the edginess of the basketball players in the moments before the start of the tournament was apparent
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Recent Examples of edginess
At the Grammys, Minerva applied the classic neutral OPI Bare My Soul to Lovato's nails but outlined each one with thin strokes of Black Onyx for just the right amount of edginess, and did the same with rhinestones for a glitzy, glam mani during the holidays.
—
Kara Nesvig, Allure, 19 Feb. 2026
Feeling hesitant about periwinkle’s edginess?
—Marisa Suzanne Martin, The Spruce, 29 Jan. 2026
High-waist black leather pants and a crop top add edginess, while the trench effortlessly pulls the look together.
—Samantha Brash, InStyle, 28 Jan. 2026
Besides playing with his usual defensive edginess, Larsson chipped in 16 points (7-for-9 shooting), nine assists, six rebounds and a steal and twice managed to infuriate normally mild-manner veteran DeMar DeRozan, who body checked him to the ground on one sequence and clotheslined him on another.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 21 Jan. 2026
To generate relevancy and influence, social-media algorithms demand spectacle, conflict, and edginess.
—Ali Breland, The Atlantic, 23 Dec. 2025
The raw hem adds a touch of edginess that’ll spice up even a pair of white sneakers.
—Rylee Johnston, PEOPLE, 14 Nov. 2025
Carpenter, eye-catching in a glittery fringe dress, couldn’t help but exude a certain edginess onstage at the Opry House, even if the 26-year-old left out some of her favorite swear words.
—Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 8 Oct. 2025
What these pants add to the look is a bit of edginess.
—Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 8 Aug. 2025
Kara Nesvig, Allure, 19 Feb. 2026
Feeling hesitant about periwinkle’s edginess?
—Marisa Suzanne Martin, The Spruce, 29 Jan. 2026
High-waist black leather pants and a crop top add edginess, while the trench effortlessly pulls the look together.
—Samantha Brash, InStyle, 28 Jan. 2026
Besides playing with his usual defensive edginess, Larsson chipped in 16 points (7-for-9 shooting), nine assists, six rebounds and a steal and twice managed to infuriate normally mild-manner veteran DeMar DeRozan, who body checked him to the ground on one sequence and clotheslined him on another.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 21 Jan. 2026
To generate relevancy and influence, social-media algorithms demand spectacle, conflict, and edginess.
—Ali Breland, The Atlantic, 23 Dec. 2025
The raw hem adds a touch of edginess that’ll spice up even a pair of white sneakers.
—Rylee Johnston, PEOPLE, 14 Nov. 2025
Carpenter, eye-catching in a glittery fringe dress, couldn’t help but exude a certain edginess onstage at the Opry House, even if the 26-year-old left out some of her favorite swear words.
—Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 8 Oct. 2025
What these pants add to the look is a bit of edginess.
—Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 8 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for edginess
Noun
-
The purpose is to foster humility, reduce a person’s anxiety by releasing their need for control and provide an external source of strength for long-term recovery.—
Jen Christensen,
CNN Money,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Under a psychiatrist's care, she was prescribed anti-anxiety and anti-depression medications and regularly saw a therapist.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
1 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
How investors should respond to the moment depends on their savings and investment goals — but there are strategies to protect your portfolio during the heightened unease.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
27 Feb. 2026
-
But more broadly, the AI scare trade visited upon Nvidia on Thursday underscores a growing unease around the future of AI.—
Allie Canal,
NBC news,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
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While many retirees focus on market crashes or poor investment returns as their biggest worry, financial experts warn that the slow, steady rise in the cost of living may actually pose a greater danger — one that can stretch across decades and leave retirees struggling to keep up.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
26 Feb. 2026
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Hufnagel addressed those worries, saying that 2026 is focused on optimizing the footprint through sharper assortments and marketing to support full-price sell-through and sustainable long-term growth.—
Stephen Garner,
Footwear News,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
But analysts and portfolio managers say investors shouldn’t give in to these nerves just yet, pointing instead to shifts in the markets that could create new opportunities.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Nvidia’s stock rose Wednesday in anticipation of a strong report; asset managers noted that the market’s response is unpredictable given investors’ nerves.—
J.D. Capelouto,
semafor.com,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Several countries have begun withdrawing dependents of diplomatic personnel and non-essential staff from some locations in the Middle East, or advising citizens to avoid travel to Iran, amid rising tensions between Washington and Tehran.—
Francesca Chambers,
USA Today,
27 Feb. 2026
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After nine episodes spent stewing in suspicion, the CBS legal drama has released the tension from one of its biggest secrets and forced Julian into action.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The combination of sugar and caffeine may cause more jitteriness than coffee alone.—
Caitlin Beale,
Health,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Four Sigmatic coffee contains less caffeine to help prevent jitteriness and energy crashes.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Conference Board economist Dana Peterson noted these state indexes have a history of statistical jumpiness.—
Jonathan Lansner,
Oc Register,
30 Dec. 2025
-
His jumpiness in the pocket, decision-making and lack of deep passes are a cause for concern, potentially.—
Chase Gemes,
Kansas City Star,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Now, with early voting for the March 3 primary set to start next week, the mudslinging in both races is expected to soar, according to insiders with both parties watching with skittishness from Texas and Washington.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
10 Feb. 2026
-
The skittishness with tech stocks subsided on Friday, with shares of Nvidia and Microsoft going up, as did the price of Bitcoin.—
Carlos Garcia,
Fortune,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Edginess.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/edginess. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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