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

Clooney plays a fixer hired to clean up a crisis involving an agricultural company's shady dealings while Swinton is all nervy unease as the corporation's lawyer trying to keep it together amid a series of bad deeds. 14. —Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 25 Feb. 2025

Dealing with pressure has been a topic of debate following Sunday’s nervy 2-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers. —James Pearce, The Athletic, 18 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

This nervy psychological thriller about a closeted undercover cop can be hard to watch. —David Sims, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for nervy

• curvy
• scurvy

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