nerves 1 of 2

noun

plural of nerve
as in shivers
a sense of panic or extreme nervousness a veteran performer who still gets a case of the nerves before performances

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nerves

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of nerve
as in braces
to prepare (oneself) mentally or emotionally needs to nerve himself for the big game tomorrow

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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 nerves
Noun
If students have nerves about speaking on school grounds, those on the peripheries of campus don’t face the same dilemma. — Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 14 Oct. 2026 The idea is to sound like an inferior buck in the brush, one that is roaming around a mature deer’s space and getting on his nerves. — Michael Hanback, Outdoor Life, 14 Oct. 2026 Tina hoped that a family vacation would calm Griffith’s nerves, but Griffith was on edge. — Andrew Coletti, Popular Science, 14 Oct. 2026 Because of the way the substance interacts with the body’s nerves, Schwarz said those who chronically use it face nerve injury and numbness. — Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026 But as nerves kicked in, Taylor three-putted the 17th and thought his chances were dwindling. — ABC News, 11 Oct. 2026 And nothing about the performance against the 49ers calmed last nerves. — Troy Renck, Denver Post, 8 Oct. 2026 For someone whose energetic stomp through Lagos helped introduce her to much of the internet, nerves still arrived when the Chanel runway beckoned. — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 6 Oct. 2026 After an injury, nerves send out signals to help form a blastema. — Junsu Kang, The Conversation, 5 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nerves
  1. shivers
  2. braces
  3. fortifies
Noun
  • The idea of seeing a total solar eclipse there sent shivers through me.
    — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The country’s steady release of AI models that are open-source, high-performing, and relatively cheap to build and run has been sending shivers through Silicon Valley and Wall Street.
    — Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of shivers
Verb
  • The kingdom braces for the war on the horizon in this new Norse saga, as other Scandinavian kings and even an English king are drawn into the chaos.
    — Mya Copeland, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026
  • As the state braces for tough budget years, some questioned whether there would be an appetite to invest money in a decades-long experiment.
    — Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of braces
Verb
  • The additional financing fortifies its position as one of two investors alongside the Ellison family controlling Paramount’s voting stock.
    — Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The addition of cotton and raw material-producing countries like Egypt and Ethiopia further fortifies a strong sourcing platform that already includes manufacturing giants India and China.
    — Mayu Saini, Footwear News, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of fortifies

Phrases Containing nerves

Browse Nearby Words

nerve-racking
nerves
nerviness
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Cite this Entry

“Nerves.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nerves. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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