as in anxiety
an uneasy state of mind usually over the possibility of an anticipated misfortune or trouble
your nervousness over your son's safety is only natural
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Recent Examples of nervousness
How Superstitions Impact Modern Life and Pregnacy Pregnancy and childbirth are major life changes, and with that may come feelings of nervousness, excitement, even fear—and some of these feelings could present themselves as superstitions.
—
Kara Nesvig, Parents, 23 Oct. 2025
Supporters witnessed players gesturing to each other in annoyance at misplaced passes or mistimed runs, fans let rip with their own nervousness as their side defended a 1-0 lead, and, most graphically, head coach Vitor Pereira was sent from the touchline after his own anxiety got the better of him.
—Steve Madeley, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
The operatives — typically uneasy about their party’s message, especially on the heels of the devastating 2024 election — did not express nervousness or fear about any ramifications in next year’s midterms.
—Amie Parnes, The Hill, 2 Oct. 2025
Don’t try to talk yourself out of feeling badly, and instead, take time to figure out what your nervousness could say about your values, says David Rosmarin, an associate psychiatry professor at Harvard Medical School.
—Megan Sauer, CNBC, 24 Sep. 2025
While big volatility gauges aren’t sounding alarms — the VIX Index is hovering below 16 — there is a sense of nervousness that’s evident beyond big tech stocks.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 11 Sep. 2025
The deck team’s reactions to Kerry’s nervousness perfectly encapsulate each of their personalities.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 2 Sep. 2025
In the 2024 National College Health Assessment Report, 30% of the 30,000 students surveyed said anxiety negatively affected their academic performance, with 20% at risk for symptoms that suggest severe psychological distress, such as feelings of sadness, nervousness and hopelessness.
—Chanam Lee, The Conversation, 2 Sep. 2025
Being too aggressive can cause undue worry and create nervousness.
—David Kudla, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Kara Nesvig, Parents, 23 Oct. 2025
Supporters witnessed players gesturing to each other in annoyance at misplaced passes or mistimed runs, fans let rip with their own nervousness as their side defended a 1-0 lead, and, most graphically, head coach Vitor Pereira was sent from the touchline after his own anxiety got the better of him.
—Steve Madeley, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
The operatives — typically uneasy about their party’s message, especially on the heels of the devastating 2024 election — did not express nervousness or fear about any ramifications in next year’s midterms.
—Amie Parnes, The Hill, 2 Oct. 2025
Don’t try to talk yourself out of feeling badly, and instead, take time to figure out what your nervousness could say about your values, says David Rosmarin, an associate psychiatry professor at Harvard Medical School.
—Megan Sauer, CNBC, 24 Sep. 2025
While big volatility gauges aren’t sounding alarms — the VIX Index is hovering below 16 — there is a sense of nervousness that’s evident beyond big tech stocks.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 11 Sep. 2025
The deck team’s reactions to Kerry’s nervousness perfectly encapsulate each of their personalities.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 2 Sep. 2025
In the 2024 National College Health Assessment Report, 30% of the 30,000 students surveyed said anxiety negatively affected their academic performance, with 20% at risk for symptoms that suggest severe psychological distress, such as feelings of sadness, nervousness and hopelessness.
—Chanam Lee, The Conversation, 2 Sep. 2025
Being too aggressive can cause undue worry and create nervousness.
—David Kudla, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nervousness
Noun
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The attendees—thirty- and forty-somethings who are members of the bank’s Private Wealth Management (PWM) division, which boasts an average account size of over $75 million—gathered to hash out their anxiety and excitement.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
9 Nov. 2025
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Barton will have to wait another month to receive his sentence for the six guilty counts the jury returned on charges of sending a grossly offensive electronic communication with intent to cause distress or anxiety to football broadcasters Eni Aluko and Lucy Ward, and TV and radio host Jeremy Vine.—
Greg O'Keeffe,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Cotton argued the shutdown’s cause was not the expiring health care subsidies, but rather Democrats’ fear of blowback from their supporters.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
11 Nov. 2025
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Iran is facing its worst drought in decades, raising fears of evacuations in Tehran while threatening the regime’s stability and nuclear ambitions, according to a leading environmental expert.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Meanwhile Syria remains scarred by years of conflict and nationals in Germany are looking on at the debate with mounting worry.—
Sophie Tanno,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
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Leaders at big carmakers spelled out their worries in the latest round of earnings calls, saying that finding a replacement for Nexperia at scale in the short term will be difficult.—
Boston Herald Wire Services,
Boston Herald,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously opposed the bill, citing concerns over potential retaliation against Israeli hostages held in Gaza.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
11 Nov. 2025
-
Addressing environmental and material concerns While perovskite materials are relatively affordable, their use of rare elements and lead raises environmental concerns.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Directed by Tiago Rosa-Rosso, the film stages a gently absurd domestic scenario that drifts between comedy and unease, unfoldig like a theatrical chamber piece where logic slips and all is up for questioning.—
Callum McLennan,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
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The feature opens as Magda’s son returns from the front to this world without men, with his arrival stirring a growing unease among the group.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nervousness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nervousness. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
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