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

Glasner the magician, European dreams but a nervy summer Drance: Where do the Canucks go from here after magical season falls short? —New York Times, 21 May 2024

Trap has a Hitchcockian setup, in which a serial killer (the wonderfully nervy Josh Hartnett) brings his daughter to a pop concert and then must escape a battalion of police who are after him, without giving away his secret. —David Sims, The Atlantic, 9 Dec. 2024

Instead, a four-shot lead was derailed by bogeys at 11 and 12 and a string of nervy swings that followed. —Brendan Quinn, The Athletic, 4 Aug. 2024

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