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nerve

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word nerve different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of nerve are audacity, cheek, chutzpah, effrontery, gall, hardihood, and temerity. While all these words mean "conspicuous or flagrant boldness," nerve, cheek, gall, and chutzpah are informal equivalents for effrontery.

the nerve of that guy
has the cheek to call herself a singer
had the gall to demand proof
the chutzpah needed for a career in show business

Where would audacity be a reasonable alternative to nerve?

The words audacity and nerve are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, audacity implies a disregard of restraints commonly imposed by convention or prudence.

an entrepreneur with audacity and vision

When is it sensible to use effrontery instead of nerve?

Although the words effrontery and nerve have much in common, effrontery implies shameless, insolent disregard of propriety or courtesy.

outraged at his effrontery

When could hardihood be used to replace nerve?

In some situations, the words hardihood and nerve are roughly equivalent. However, hardihood suggests firmness in daring and defiance.

admired for her hardihood

When is temerity a more appropriate choice than nerve?

The synonyms temerity and nerve are sometimes interchangeable, but temerity suggests boldness arising from rashness and contempt of danger.

had the temerity to refuse

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 nerve
Noun
Do this instead Acknowledge nerves but channel them into enthusiasm. Eli Rubel, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2025 Balance Blood Sugar Over time, high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) can harm your nerves and blood vessels, raising your risk for heart disease. Amy Isler, Verywell Health, 9 Sep. 2025 Nortriptyline, a tricyclic antidepressant used for depression and nerve pain, can cause seizures, dangerous heart arrhythmias and cardiac arrest in children, even at relatively low doses, per The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne. Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2025 Vaikunthan Rajaratnam, a nerve surgeon and UNESCO chair partner, claimed in a LinkedIn article, however, he’s been working to reverse engineer ChatGPT to actually sound like him. Sydney Lake, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for nerve
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nerve
Noun
  • This crisis has shown us which world leaders will not only consent to this genocide, but brutally discipline their populations for having the gall to question it.
    Jack Sheehan September 4, Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Then there are parasitic wasps, which lay their eggs in the galls and go on to devour the entire oak gall wasp.
    Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Ironically, the very adaptability and intellectual courage the future demands are often harder to cultivate in today’s college climate.
    Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
  • In an atmosphere of repression and fear, these women discover courage, solidarity, and the power of imagination through the simple transformative act of reading together.
    Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 16 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Blend beet juice into smoothies or protein shakes.
    Lindsey DeSoto, Health, 9 Sep. 2025
  • There are dessert items such as frozen custard, shakes, malts and other seasonal items.
    Cathy Kozlowicz, jsonline.com, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Houston is bracing for the loss of Framber Valdez in free agency and has already lost three other starters — Ronel Blanco, Hayden Wesneski and Brandon Walter — to elbow surgeries that will keep them out for some portion of next season.
    Chandler Rome, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Ravens Pro Bowl edge rusher Kyle Van Noy is bracing to potentially miss multiple games due to a hamstring injury suffered Sunday, per source.
    James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Mitchell prides himself on being a no-nonsense, no-bulls*** kind of man, but his attitude can sometimes come across as arrogance.
    George Caulkin, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
  • This arrogance is not just limited to tech titans.
    Christian Josi, Boston Herald, 31 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • From families torn apart to moments of hope emerging in the face of unspeakable tragedy to incredible bravery against the odds, each episode reveals the human cost and resilience born out of chaos.
    James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 15 Sep. 2025
  • These include helping your family, helping your group, demonstrating reciprocity, demonstrating bravery, respecting a hierarchy and your superiors, dividing resources in an equitable way and respecting ownership of property.
    Tracy Brower, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Hank is a Dallas Cowboys diehard; the idea of Bobby getting into the Premier League sends him into full-body shivers.
    Jeremy Gordon, The Atlantic, 22 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Richer creams packed with hydrating ingredients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid that fortify the skin’s barrier from the coming windchill and the telltale skin tightness from indoor heating take center stage on our top shelves.
    Tanya Akim, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Just this past offseason Miami put an emphasis on fortifying the trenches, correcting a past wrong, adding players with size and girth on the offensive and defensive line via the NFL Draft.
    Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 12 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Nerve.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nerve. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

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