heebie-jeebies

plural noun

hee·​bie-jee·​bies ˌhē-bē-ˈjē-bēz How to pronounce heebie-jeebies (audio)

Examples of heebie-jeebies in a Sentence

got a bad case of the heebie-jeebies before the audition
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Shoppers are getting spooky season heebie-jeebies The Consumer Confidence Index just experienced its largest drop since August 2021. Melvin Backman, Quartz, 25 Sep. 2024 Either way, creepy kids have earned a permanent place in the horror canon. Ahead, see which movie and TV children give us major heebie-jeebies. Ew Staff, EW.com, 15 July 2024 Who gives you the biggest heebie-jeebies of the bunch? How To Save A Country, The New Republic, 27 Apr. 2023

Word History

Etymology

coined by Billy DeBeck †1942 American cartoonist

First Known Use

1923, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of heebie-jeebies was in 1923

Dictionary Entries Near heebie-jeebies

Cite this Entry

“Heebie-jeebies.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heebie-jeebies. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!