nervier; nerviest
1
archaic : sinewy, strong
2
a
: showing or expressive of calm courage : bold
b
: marked by effrontery or presumption : brash
3
nervily adverb
nerviness noun

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
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.
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 See all Example Sentences for nervy 

Word History

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of nervy was in 1598

Dictionary Entries Near nervy

Cite this Entry

“Nervy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nervy. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

nervy

adjective
nervier; nerviest
1
a
: showing calm courage : fearless
b
: rudely bold
a nervy salesperson
2
nerviness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on nervy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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