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
  • That ranks ninth in the Eastern Conference, expectations wise — and a little shy of the 46 wins Atlanta mustered last time around.
    — Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Helen is adept at shifting blame, and a wise woman realizes when she is outgunned.
    — Danielle Parker, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of wise
Adjective
  • The Original Series, Walter helped inspire audiences with his optimism, humor, and adventurous spirit.
    — Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 26 Oct. 2026
  • And for an actress whose adventurous filmography spans the Hollywood blockbuster Pacific Rim and the offbeat indie Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter, the role draws on more of her range than ever.
    — Lisa Wong Macabasco, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of adventurous
Adjective
  • That sounds appealing, especially to investors nervous about market declines.
    — Daniel Kern, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Shopkeepers boarded up windows while others opened temporarily and endured a nervous Saturday afternoon, after around 3,000 shops were damaged or looted last weekend.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of nervous
Adjective
  • In a video posted to Jessie's Instagram, the former NFL star made some cheeky puns to promote her new cookbook.
    — Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The Heeler family home is recreated in uncanny detail—from Bandit’s armchair to the backyard barbecue—with interactive games led by a cheeky garden gnome named Rhonda, music, and secret nooks that delight kids and grown-ups.
    — Alli Forde, Travel + Leisure, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of cheeky
Adjective
  • The project has since taken the brand on daring and adventurous trips to the most remote locations around the world, all documented by Mollison.
    — Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 20 Oct. 2026
  • 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
Definition of daring
Adjective
  • Observers say the Student List party's policies remain vague, which has some worried about Serbia's future.
    — Chris Massaro, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Gas prices were safely below $3 a gallon, and, if anything, the energy market was worried about a supply glut that could keep fuel prices low.
    — Matt Egan, CNN Money, 26 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
  • The actor praised Chris Rock’s writing as fearless, describing her character as contradictory, self-destructive and prone to terrible decisions.
    — Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Cinema needs women who are complicated, instinctive, ambitious, vulnerable, fearless and free – women who do not ask permission to take up space.
    — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 20 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 28 Oct. 2026.

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