nervy

adjective

ˈnər-vē How to pronounce nervy (audio)
Definition of nervynext
1
as in wise
displaying or marked by rude boldness the nervy waiter held up the small tip and called out to the departing customers, "Hope it doesn't break the bank!"

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in adventurous
inclined or willing to take risks nervy rock climbers wanting to make gravity-defying ascents

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in nervous
feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty I'm a little nervy about my first job interview

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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 nervy Her unvarnished, heartsore turn as a woman unprepared to be the face of a movement, but shouldering that responsibility anyway, gives this otherwise stoic affair a nervy, sensitive spine. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 23 July 2026 Coach Thomas Tuchel helped England navigate a nervy 3-2 win over Mexico in a Round of 16 match in Mexico City. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 14 July 2026 At lunch, after 25 overs, were a nervy Henry Nicholls on 23 from 50 balls and Rachin Ravindra on 11 after a couple of exquisite boundaries. — ABC News, 17 June 2026 Outside Boston last weekend, during Scotland’s first World Cup match in twenty-eight years, a nervy 1–0 victory against Haiti, McTominay heard plenty of familiar cheers. — Ed Caesar, New Yorker, 16 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for nervy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nervy
  1. wise
  2. adventurous
  3. nervous
  4. cheeky
  5. daring
  6. worried
  7. cocky
  8. fearless
Adjective
  • Maybe there’s an equilibrium that must be restored on this show, relationship-wise.
    — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Anthropic updates its policies to bar users being cruel to Claude, inflaming a debate about whether the company’s concern for ‘model welfare’ is wise.
    — Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of wise
Adjective
  • Anita recalled her grandson’s adventurous upbringing and his relationship with God.
    — Marisela Cruz, San Antonio Express-News, 17 Oct. 2026
  • This gift box contains eight bars, spanning from 58 to 80% cacao, in flavors like banana foster and green tea crunch for the adventurous and pink sea salt or pure cacao, dates, and vanilla for the purists.
    — Kate Kassin, Bon Appetit Magazine, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of adventurous
Adjective
  • Any agency whose main product is activity rather than thinking should be very nervous right now; frankly, some of them should have been nervous years ago.
    — Angelica Kopec, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Consumers in the country, nervous about the shaky economy, are loading up on gold jewelry, bars and coins.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of nervous
Adjective
  • The cheeky phrase that inspired the custom ’fit comes from one of Colman’s lines in the film.
    — Kenneal Patterson, Vanity Fair, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Republican Steve Hilton is leaning on cheeky ads and voter discontent in a long-shot campaign for governor.
    — Deputy Managing Editor, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of cheeky
Adjective
  • At the center of it all is the daring, epic raid on a bank vault deep beneath the streets of Zurich.
    — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026
  • But what begins as a bold and daring attempt to broach progressive issues in a notoriously conservative society ultimately loses its nerve, acquiescing to a number of eyebrow-raising narrative compromises.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of daring
Adjective
  • For my worried patient, that study was not a countdown clock on his chance to become a dad.
    — Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026
  • In the Vatican, some pilgrims were worried, hopeful and a little disappointed.
    — Claudio Lavanga, NBC news, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of worried
Adjective
  • Innanen‘s characters in the five-episode series include a manager lacking confidence, a cocky cruise specialist, an adventure expert who deeply fears adventure and a Francophile who hasn‘t left American soil since the late ’90s.
    — Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026
  • On the field, there’s drama between head coach Danny Roarke (Christopher Meloni) and the cocky quarterback.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of cocky
Adjective
  • In this week's episode of 'Friday Night Live,' @latsondheimer + @RandyRosenbloom talk to Paraclete quarterback Shawn Sanders about his versatility, his fearless playing style and the Spirits’ recent success.
    — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Behind the iconic temples, fearless warriors, and legendary philosophers are countless stories that rarely make it into history books.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of fearless

Browse Nearby Words

nervous wrecks
nervy
nescience
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Cite this Entry

“Nervy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nervy. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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