as in shivers
a sense of panic or extreme nervousness
a veteran performer who still gets a case of the nerves before performances
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in braces
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 nerves
Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 26 Mar. 2026
That turned out to be just a citywide case of nerves.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
Both activate our body’s cold-sensing nerves.
—Jacek Krywko, Scientific American, 25 Mar. 2026
Stroke, Parkinson’s disease, dementia and other neurological conditions can affect the muscles and nerves that control swallowing.
—Sundeep Venkatesan, The Conversation, 23 Mar. 2026
Calcium is essential for keeping your bones strong, your teeth healthy, and your muscles and nerves functioning properly.
—Lauren Manaker, SELF, 23 Mar. 2026
The Boilermakers came out a little tight and the nerves of trying to help Smith break the record almost got to them.
—Cj Moore, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2026
Co-workers get on each other’s nerves all the time.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 20 Mar. 2026
Still, wanting to be a team player, Anthony is warm, friendly, and offers an encouraging word to the future CEO — despite Dougie’s obvious nerves and his random outbursts in Jamaican Patois.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 19 Mar. 2026
Noun
Roller coasters are the ultimate mix of thrill and are designed to toy with gravity and your nerves.
—Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 26 Mar. 2026
That turned out to be just a citywide case of nerves.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
Both activate our body’s cold-sensing nerves.
—Jacek Krywko, Scientific American, 25 Mar. 2026
Stroke, Parkinson’s disease, dementia and other neurological conditions can affect the muscles and nerves that control swallowing.
—Sundeep Venkatesan, The Conversation, 23 Mar. 2026
Calcium is essential for keeping your bones strong, your teeth healthy, and your muscles and nerves functioning properly.
—Lauren Manaker, SELF, 23 Mar. 2026
The Boilermakers came out a little tight and the nerves of trying to help Smith break the record almost got to them.
—Cj Moore, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2026
Co-workers get on each other’s nerves all the time.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 20 Mar. 2026
Still, wanting to be a team player, Anthony is warm, friendly, and offers an encouraging word to the future CEO — despite Dougie’s obvious nerves and his random outbursts in Jamaican Patois.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 19 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nerves
Noun
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And some shivers, because that title isn’t a misdirect.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
27 Mar. 2026
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Loznitsa’s methods are grim and exacting, but the effect is never monotonous; there are shivers of Hitchcockian suspense, plus a whispery cackle of satire that veers toward the Kafkaesque.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Whenever the weather changes suddenly, or the skyline becomes shrouded in a windy haze, Fernanda Camarillo braces herself for an asthma attack.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Mar. 2026
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But the $110 billion sale of WBD to Paramount that Zaslav has orchestrated hung over the festivities, as the industry braces for the thousands of layoffs that will result from the consolidation.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Justin Faulk immediately fortifies Detroit’s second defense pair next to Ben Chiarot.—
The Athletic NHL Staff,
New York Times,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Adding keratin back into hair fortifies the strands ultimately yielding stronger, healthier hair.—
Sophie Wirt,
InStyle,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nerves.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nerves. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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