EDGINESS Synonyms: 59 Similar and Opposite Words

edginess

noun

Definition of edginess

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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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 edginess In spite of the intermittent aesthetics of edginess, Bass is better understood as a foray into a classic mid-career pop-star conceit. — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 23 Sep. 2026 In many ways, this movie set the template for the modern action-comedy blockbuster, but few of its many imitators have come close to matching the spunky edginess and swooning romantic intrigue of the original trend-setter. — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Aug. 2026 The edginess of your bob is directly correlated to its length. — Calin Van Paris, InStyle, 9 Aug. 2026 Not, perhaps, in the context of last season and the edginess of this summer, but in the sense of meaning and finality. — David Ornstein, New York Times, 30 July 2026 And for the 2026 ESPYs, her hairstylist, Anh Co Tran, made sure her hair remained inspo-pic-worthy, sweeping it into an intentionally imperfect updo that managed to balance elegance and edginess—just like the figure skater herself. — Marci Robin, Allure, 16 July 2026 In an age in which every character needs to have some edginess or shadow of darkness in them, this Hutt is the contrary. — Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 22 May 2026 Maslany is the dynamic center of a story that twists in unexpected directions, giving Paula enough intelligence, warmth, and edginess to make her character cohere. — Judy Berman, Time, 20 May 2026 Alvarado is only 6-foot, but the five-year NBA veteran finds ways to overcome his undersized stature with energy, edginess and IQ. — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 30 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for edginess

Noun

Research has also found that across generational groups, greater user tendency to engage in social comparison, together with greater maladaptive ways of coping with emotions, is associated with more symptoms of anger, anxiety, and depression.

— Ashwini Nadkarni, Time, 24 Oct. 2026
The market for profiting off male body anxiety is nothing new.

— Gavin Francis, The New York Review of Books, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of anxiety

Noun

There are so many organizations working to protect the voting process -- including many that cannot legally coordinate with each other -- that some officials involved worry about unintentionally creating chaos outside polling locations.

— STEVE PEOPLES, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026
Those talks collapsed over price and worries about antitrust pushback, neither of which hold true today.

— Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of worry

Noun

Where most body parts can recover from trauma to some degree, damage to our nerves isn’t granted the same latitude.

— Mike McRae October 21, New Atlas, 22 Oct. 2026
Steven Huefner, deputy director of the Election Law Program at Ohio State University, says poll chaplains might be able to calm the frayed nerves of a voting public that is constantly exposed to divisive rhetoric and news about political violence.

— Deepa Bharath, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of nerves

Noun

Also hanging over the election were lingering tensions with Iran.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 28 Oct. 2026
This tension has given rise to a subgenre of Hong Kong horror films in which high-density housing is a spooky backdrop for exploring superstition and socioeconomic anxieties.

— Hari Raj, New York Times, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of tension

Noun

Research shows that side effects may include insomnia, jitteriness, and gastrointestinal issues.

— Carrie Madormo, Verywell Health, 2 Oct. 2026
The constant movement might make some audience members dizzy, yet its jitteriness signifies the anxiety and unease of the characters, both in their skin and with each other.

— Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 25 May 2026

Definition of jitteriness

Noun

Market jumpiness can serve as a good moment for those nearing the end of their career to make sure their nest egg is prepared for a downturn, Benz said.

— Annie Nova,Ryan Ermey, CNBC, 5 Mar. 2026
Conference Board economist Dana Peterson noted these state indexes have a history of statistical jumpiness.

— Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 30 Dec. 2025

Definition of jumpiness

Noun

Gorky was using European traditions—Roberto Matta’s Surrealism, Picasso’s neoclassicism, Cézanne’s explorations—to make work that captured New York’s sexiness, skittishness, and force.

— Hilton Als, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026
This summer, major shoe brands from Nike to Adidas to Under Armour to On have each expressed skittishness about the retail environment for sneaker sales.

— Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of skittishness

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edgewise

edginess

edging

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“Edginess.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/edginess. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of edginess

noun

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