as in adventurous
inclined or willing to take risks
a nerved and fearless driver of race cars
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in braced
to prepare (oneself) mentally or emotionally
needs to nerve himself for the big game tomorrow
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 nerved
Alison Willmore, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
The latest target is 402 km/h (250 mph), a mind-bending pace on two wheels that requires a special, steely nerved rider.
—IEEE Spectrum, 30 Mar. 2023
Jessica John gives one of the best performances of her career as the raw-nerved and boldly confrontational Barbara, whose despair leads to her confuse Johnny with Donny after a couple gallon-size jugs of wine.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Nov. 2022
The result is a work of rare, raw-nerved insight into group therapy and individual trauma, as well as a moving vision of male friendship and strength in the face of evil.
—Los Angeles Times, 9 Nov. 2021
Most of the emotion in the series veers toward the overblown or maudlin, though Winona Ryder (God bless ’er), who plays Will’s jangly nerved mother, Joyce, has at last decided to fully apply her once formidable talent to the role.
—Hank Stuever, Washington Post, 3 July 2019
Putin, a former KGB agent, has ruled Russia as prime minister or president for more than 18 years, and in that time has crafted an image as a steely nerved leader and the man best qualified to rebuild his country after the end of the Soviet Union.
—Andrew E. Kramer, BostonGlobe.com, 7 May 2018
Cynthia Gerber is just right as the fragile-nerved stage manager Poppy.
—Pam Kragen, sandiegouniontribune.com, 15 Apr. 2018
Adjective
But what places this film on this list is Byrne’s raw-nerved, aching, anxiously taut performance.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
The latest target is 402 km/h (250 mph), a mind-bending pace on two wheels that requires a special, steely nerved rider.
—IEEE Spectrum, 30 Mar. 2023
Jessica John gives one of the best performances of her career as the raw-nerved and boldly confrontational Barbara, whose despair leads to her confuse Johnny with Donny after a couple gallon-size jugs of wine.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Nov. 2022
The result is a work of rare, raw-nerved insight into group therapy and individual trauma, as well as a moving vision of male friendship and strength in the face of evil.
—Los Angeles Times, 9 Nov. 2021
Most of the emotion in the series veers toward the overblown or maudlin, though Winona Ryder (God bless ’er), who plays Will’s jangly nerved mother, Joyce, has at last decided to fully apply her once formidable talent to the role.
—Hank Stuever, Washington Post, 3 July 2019
Putin, a former KGB agent, has ruled Russia as prime minister or president for more than 18 years, and in that time has crafted an image as a steely nerved leader and the man best qualified to rebuild his country after the end of the Soviet Union.
—Andrew E. Kramer, BostonGlobe.com, 7 May 2018
Cynthia Gerber is just right as the fragile-nerved stage manager Poppy.
—Pam Kragen, sandiegouniontribune.com, 15 Apr. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nerved
Adjective
-
The adventurous activity allows travelers the chance to come eye-to-eye with a shark from the safety of a cage, from the Galapagos Islands to the Western Cape of South Africa.—
Kristine Hansen,
Travel + Leisure,
14 May 2026
-
Un Certain Regard has an excellent track record for this kind of thing — formally adventurous films that leave audiences slightly altered.—
Seth Abramovitch,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Eveningside’s smaller arms holding on to the chains while Morningside’s longer arms propelled them, her fists and excess joints braced against the ground; their span lengthening, extending and retracting in the girls’ to and fro.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
-
Lone lost both arms in an accident at the age of eight and taught himself to play cricket using his legs, batting with the bat braced between his neck and chin and bowling with his feet.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
19 May 2026
Adjective
-
Instead of wanting to hide her hairstyle, the toddler came home proud of herself for being brave enough to go through with it.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
17 May 2026
-
One brave man ignores a greeting.—
Sophie Monks Kaufman,
IndieWire,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
The weekend only fortified the belief that things will turn.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 May 2026
-
Dairy foods, leafy greens, fatty fish, and fortified milk can help boost calcium and vitamin D intake.—
Mira Miller,
Verywell Health,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
For the less daring, there are a total of five trails inside the park.—
Marnie Hunter,
CNN Money,
14 May 2026
-
The unit famously killed Usama bin Laden in 2011 in a daring raid deep into Pakistan.—
David Hookstead OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
And Elia Kazan, the most notorious name-namer of them all, was simply a courageous patriot who told the truth.—
Seth Abramovitch,
HollywoodReporter,
20 May 2026
-
Uthmeier has taken a courageous stand, and should finish the fight.—
Kimberly Bird,
The Orlando Sentinel,
17 May 2026
Adjective
-
Hsu attacks the transformation with fearless physical comedy and emotional sincerity, balancing the musical's absurdity with genuine warmth.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
19 May 2026
-
Hekmat said the goal is to keep pushing into new spaces while staying rooted in fearless self-expression.—
Renan Botelho,
Footwear News,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
Yolande was bold, vivacious, and beloved of every gossip columnist.—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
18 May 2026
-
New Orleans & Company describes the restaurant as a refined, elegant expression of Louisiana cooking rooted in Emeril Lagasse’s signature bold flavors.—
Noel Burgess,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nerved.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nerved. Accessed 25 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
