nervy

adjective

ˈnər-vē 

nervier; nerviest

1

archaic : sinewy, strong

2

a

: showing or expressive of calm courage : bold

b

: marked by effrontery or presumption : brash

3

: excitable, nervous

nervily

ˈnər-və-lē 

adverb

nerviness

ˈnər-vē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• arch
• audacious
• bold
• bold-faced
• brash
• brassbound
• brassy
• brazen
• brazen-faced
• cheeky
• cocksure
• cocky
• fresh
• impertinent
• impudent
• insolent
• sassy
• saucy
• wise

Examples of nervy in a Sentence

a nervy performance in the play-offs

a nervy film director who's not afraid to take risks

The passengers were restless and nervy after the long flight.

Too much coffee makes me nervy.

Recent Examples on the Web

Her expression is at once nervy and pensive, the scholar and the militant in full and equal view. —Hazlitt, 4 Sep. 2024

That’s the provocative question asked by I, Tonya, a nervy biopic about the disgraced figure skater, brought to complicated life by Margot Robbie. —Will Leitch, Vulture, 27 Apr. 2024

Ordering the material this way gives the film the nervy edge of a thriller and makes Moore’s account feel like a slippery assemblage of facts. —Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019

Despite the triumphant ending, Game 6 was yet another nervy contest for the Dodgers — who jumped to a quick 6-1 lead, flirted with disaster on several occasions, then finally pulled away down the stretch. —Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

nervy

adjective

ˈnər-vē 

nervier; nerviest

1

a

: showing calm courage : fearless

b

: rudely bold

a nervy salesperson

2

: excitable sense 1, nervous

nerviness noun