nerve

1 shameless boldness you've got a lot of nerve showing up here Synonyms audaciousness, audacity, brashness, brass, brassiness, brazenness, cheek, cheekiness, chutzpah (also chutzpa or hutzpah or hutzpa), crust, face, gall, effrontery, nerviness, pertness, presumption, presumptuousness, sauce, sauciness, temerityRelated Words arrogance, assurance, cockiness, confidence, hardihood, overconfidence, sanguinity, self-assurance, self-confidence; discourteousness, disrespect, impertinence, impoliteness, impudence, incivility, inconsiderateness, inconsideration, insolence, rudeness, ungraciousness; back talk, sass; swagger, swashNear Antonyms bashfulness, diffidence, faintheartedness, hesitancy, modesty, shyness, timidity, timidness, timorousness; civility, courteousness, courtesy, gentility, graciousness, mannerliness, manners

2 strength of mind to carry on in spite of danger that daring rescue took some nerve Synonyms bottle [British slang], bravery, courageousness, daring, daringness, dauntlessness, doughtiness, fearlessness, gallantry, greatheartedness, guts, gutsiness, hardihood, heart, heroism, intestinal fortitude, intrepidity, intrepidness, moxie, courage, pecker [chiefly British], prowess, stoutness, valor, virtueRelated Words backbone, fiber, fortitude, grit, gumption, mettle, pluck, pluckiness, spunk, temper; determination, perseverance, resolution; endurance, stamina, stomach, tenacity; audacity, boldness, brazenness, cheek, cojones [slang], effrontery, gall, temerityNear Antonyms cold feet, faintheartedness, fearfulness, mousiness, timidity, timorousness; feebleness, softness, weakness; impotence, ineffectualness; hesitation, indecision, indecisiveness, irresolutionAntonyms cowardice, cowardliness, cravenness, dastardliness, poltroonery, spinelessness

3 nerves pl  a sense of panic or extreme nervousness a veteran performer who still gets a case of the nerves before performances Synonyms butterflies, dither, heebie-jeebies, jimjams, nerves, screaming meemies, shakes, shivers, whim-whams, williesRelated Words cold sweat, creeps, fidgets, goose bumps; agitation, anxiety, fear, hysteria, uneasiness; frazzle, nervous breakdown; edginess, jumpiness, skittishnessNear Antonyms aplomb, calm, composure, equanimity, imperturbability, self-possession, tranquillity (or tranquility)