as in adventurous
inclined or willing to take risks
a nerved and fearless driver of race cars
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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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
-
Primed for more adventurous snorkeling, the next day Lyra and I embarked on an early morning expedition aboard Fair Wind Cruises to Captain Cook National Monument in Kealakekua Bay.—
Brianna Randall,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
-
For the more adventurous, the hike up Hurricane Ridge affords magnificent vistas of both the Olympic Mountains and Vancouver Island.—
Dave Parfitt,
USA Today,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
In the stands, Toomey braced himself.—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
-
Russia has been using long-range ballistic missiles and drones to damage Ukraine’s power grid and hammer cities, and Ukraine has braced for further heavy bombardments.—
Stephen McGrath,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
As the players linked arms as one by one — five of them were brave enough to take on the enormous pressure of these penalties — in the shadows was the 2-1 defeat by Barcelona in their only other Champions League final twenty years ago.—
Amy Lawrence,
New York Times,
31 May 2026
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Two years later, Simon Porte Jacquemus, the prodigy from Provence, had models brave a shower of gently falling straw in giant hats made of the same material at his spring 2023 show.—
Irene Kim,
Vogue,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
Unknown to the Americans, and unspotted by their air reconnaissance, Peleliu is full of deep underground cave networks, which the Japanese had fortified and stocked with food, water and ammunition.—
Maureen O'Hare,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
-
In addition to the natural sources of magnesium, many foods are fortified to boost the magnesium content.—
Brittany Dube,
Health,
28 May 2026
Adjective
-
From the perspective of 2026, Thelma & Louise represents, with its mixture of thematic daring and commercial viability, an alchemy our mainstream movie industry seems to have since largely forgotten.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
27 May 2026
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Space pirate Hondo Ohnaka sets up the adventure during the preshow where we are once again needed to fly the Falcon on a daring mission.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
26 May 2026
Adjective
-
Perkin described his wife as inventive and courageous in her art.—
Julie Gallant,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 June 2026
-
Nearly four decades later, as cuts to HIV prevention and treatment programs threaten to unravel years of progress, Earle’s story remains a testament to the power of courageous action.—
Christina Ray Stanton,
Time,
2 June 2026
Adjective
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Until next time, may your tax planning be fearless, your records be clean, and your surprises come with confetti instead of correspondence from the IRS.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
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Yet, even in a league of great talents, Johnson stood out — thanks to his seemingly effortless and fearless creativity.—
Jim Harrington,
Mercury News,
27 May 2026
Adjective
-
The right half of the image is an architectonic jumble of patterns and bold lines, hard to parse but visually compelling.—
Jeremy Lybarger,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
-
Set the scene Sexy without being pretentious and bold without the brashness, Il Sereno is a lesson in artful restraint.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nerved.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nerved. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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