1
as in worried
feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty
he was nervous about how he would do at the varsity basketball tryouts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in uneasy
marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings
a nervous silence filled the room as the teacher handed out the graded exams
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in excitable
easily excited by nature
a nervous sort of person, she's completely thrown by anything unexpected
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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 nervous
Karen Hao, Wired News, 21 May 2025
His mom wanted to host a big party at the house, but Brock, nervous and overwhelmed, insisted that the gathering be kept small unless and until he was actually drafted.
—Michael Silver, New York Times, 20 May 2025
The amino acid plays a role in many bodily processes, from supporting the nervous and immune systems to regulating cellular function.
—Jamie Ducharme, Health, 20 May 2025
This summer, Charlie Brown is determined to make his final year at camp special, but Sally — a noob camper — is nervous about the new and unfamiliar place.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for nervous
Adjective
One bizarre experience in particular had left several of them somewhat nervous.
—Karen Hao, Wired News, 21 May 2025
His mom wanted to host a big party at the house, but Brock, nervous and overwhelmed, insisted that the gathering be kept small unless and until he was actually drafted.
—Michael Silver, New York Times, 20 May 2025
The amino acid plays a role in many bodily processes, from supporting the nervous and immune systems to regulating cellular function.
—Jamie Ducharme, Health, 20 May 2025
This summer, Charlie Brown is determined to make his final year at camp special, but Sally — a noob camper — is nervous about the new and unfamiliar place.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for nervous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nervous
Adjective
-
However, because the pool was shallow, Lisberg was less worried.—
Raven Brunner,
People.com,
25 May 2025
-
While Herzig is hoping to win a million dollars, his guests are all worried about their own various fantasy teams, mostly competing for a few hundred bucks.—
David Hill,
Rolling Stone,
24 May 2025
Adjective
-
In the wake of multiple plane crashes, and amid erratic federal policies and denials and detentions at border crossings, summer travel in the U.S. is in an uneasy state.—
Kevinisha Walker,
Los Angeles Times,
2 June 2025
-
To the south, there’s the United Arab Emirates, where again, there has been an uneasy relationship at times.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
Adjective
-
Anyone familiar with the world of the Grateful Dead knows that one of the band’s most devoted and excitable fans was the late Bill Walton, the illustrious Hall of Fame NBA center who died in May 2024 at 71.—
David Browne,
Rolling Stone,
15 May 2025
-
Groups of excitable teenage boys waited their turn to play EA FC on a bank of massive flat screen TVs.—
James Montague,
New York Times,
18 May 2025
Noun
-
Giving into your kids to avoid your own feelings of stress and anxiety does more harm than good in the long run, says bestselling author and personal growth expert Mel Robbins.—
Ashton Jackson,
CNBC,
30 May 2025
-
More than 6 million have a parent with both a substance use disorder and significant symptoms of depression, anxiety or both.—
Ty Schepis,
The Conversation,
30 May 2025
Adjective
-
In the novel’s historical re-creation, is there an anxious note to Americans now losing themselves in accommodation?—
David Denby,
New Yorker,
23 May 2025
-
An inaccurate diagnosis might lead to unnecessary or risky treatment, and a false positive can cause stress by requiring additional tests and anxious waits for results.—
Max Votek,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2025
Adjective
-
Streaming on Paramount+ Paramount+ Mission: Impossible — Fallout Maybe it’s called Fallout because this one’s lousy with plutonium cores, recaptured nuclear bombs, tense disarming sequences, and explosions.—
Eric Vilas-Boas,
Vulture,
23 May 2025
-
The posts tee up a potentially tense exchange between U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and his European counterpart later Friday morning.—
Kevin Breuninger,
CNBC,
23 May 2025
Noun
-
Some of this fear is rooted in social comparison, but much of it is tied to daily concerns about funding retirement accounts and covering child care costs.—
Eliza Brooke,
Vox,
23 May 2025
-
While on the stand, Ventura also opened up about dating Mescudi for a short period, but allegedly having to break it off out of fear of Combs' reaction.—
Jordana Comiter,
People.com,
22 May 2025
Adjective
-
Local fans were also upset at how ticketing was organised, with empty seats in temporary stands at their Montilivi ground for most games.—
The Athletic UK Staff,
New York Times,
2 June 2025
-
When the Eaton and Palisades fires sparked in January — respectively the second- and third-most destructive in California history — familiarity, friend groups and routines were upset for Emory and many of her peers.—
Emma Bowman,
NPR,
2 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nervous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nervous. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share