the jitters

plural noun

informal
: a very nervous feeling
I always get (a bad case of) the jitters before I have to give a speech.

Examples of the jitters in a Sentence

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But the jitters do not go away. — Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 3 June 2026 Let’s start leaning on those guys, get the jitters out, relax. — Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 2 June 2026 Steven Spielberg has the jitters. — Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 9 June 2026 Also, maybe both teams had the jitters in Game 1 and will shoot better in their second night in the same gym for Game 2. — Geoff Clark Outkick, FOXNews.com, 5 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for the jitters

Rhymes for the jitters

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Browse Nearby Words

the jig is up
the jitters
the joint
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Cite this Entry

“The jitters.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20jitters. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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