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!"
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
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Recent Examples of nervy
His Ryder Cup teammate Justin Rose had been quietly tearing up the course with six birdies on the second nine, storming back into contention from seven shots behind, meaning that McIlroy had to now navigate a nervy playoff.
—
Don Riddell, CNN Money, 14 Apr. 2025
So much of the verisimilitude and the nervy emotion of The Pitt is owed to the sound of silence.
—Jeremy D. Larson, Pitchfork, 11 Apr. 2025
Milenkovic converted one of those to make it 4-2 in the 63rd minute before Yates ensured a nervy finish in the 90th.
—Paul Taylor, The Athletic, 23 Feb. 2025
That’s a shame, because many of the ideas in The Gorge — about soldiers as pawns and the wide reach of the military — would have been good fodder for a nervy sci-fi.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nervy
Don Riddell, CNN Money, 14 Apr. 2025
So much of the verisimilitude and the nervy emotion of The Pitt is owed to the sound of silence.
—Jeremy D. Larson, Pitchfork, 11 Apr. 2025
Milenkovic converted one of those to make it 4-2 in the 63rd minute before Yates ensured a nervy finish in the 90th.
—Paul Taylor, The Athletic, 23 Feb. 2025
That’s a shame, because many of the ideas in The Gorge — about soldiers as pawns and the wide reach of the military — would have been good fodder for a nervy sci-fi.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nervy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nervy
Adjective
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The one that was pretty impactful for me at Cannes, at least life trajectory wise, probably more impactful than all of those other films, came in 2012.—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
18 May 2025
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If not, while national security, stability, and local shipbuilding growth are important, adding levies to tariffs this year may not be wise.—
Phillip Molnar,
Mercury News,
16 May 2025
Adjective
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For less adventurous palates, there will be barbecue and funnel cake vendors among about 30.—
Lisa Gutierrez,
Kansas City Star,
27 May 2025
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Director Robert Zemeckis finds mixed results marrying broad comedy and pop-culture references with the title wooden boy's adventurous quest to become a real kid.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
26 May 2025
Adjective
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The price of gold tends to move when markets get nervous – and so does the gold.—
Ken Roberts,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2025
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That said, one moment in the final episode did make Brashear nervous.—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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Pascal’s cheeky appearance at the Eddington evet comes one day after he, Stone and Butler, 33, made headlines for their run-in with a bee on the Cannes carpet.—
Bailey Richards,
People.com,
17 May 2025
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But pulling someone for a cheeky chat on the private Love Island terrace?—
Olivia Crandall,
Vulture,
15 May 2025
Adjective
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Another suspect has been arrested in connection with a massive New Orleans jailbreak involving 10 inmates, who pulled off their daring escape earlier this week by slipping out a hole carved behind a prison toilet.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
23 May 2025
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Their absences seemed an eerie reminder that the troubled motion picture economy could no longer sustain either their soaring production budgets or their daring aspirations.—
Peter Bart,
Deadline,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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However, because the pool was shallow, Lisberg was less worried.—
Raven Brunner,
People.com,
25 May 2025
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While Herzig is hoping to win a million dollars, his guests are all worried about their own various fantasy teams, mostly competing for a few hundred bucks.—
David Hill,
Rolling Stone,
24 May 2025
Adjective
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While some men gravitate toward bold logos or avant-garde streetwear, Powers advises balance.—
Cassell Ferere,
Forbes.com,
25 May 2025
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This is maximalism to a T: a big stripe, a ruffle detail, a bold contrast.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
25 May 2025
Adjective
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His passionate commitment to Christianity led to a compassionate attention to his fellow human beings, as well as a fearless urge to correct wrongdoing.—
Time,
Time,
27 May 2025
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Known for her nuanced performances and fearless role choices, Krieps will share insights into her artistic journey, the challenges of portraying complex characters, and her approach to storytelling across diverse cinematic landscapes.—
Christian Blauvelt,
IndieWire,
16 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nervy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nervy. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.
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