as in shivers
a sense of panic or extreme nervousness
a veteran performer who still gets a case of the nerves before performances
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in braces
to prepare (oneself) mentally or emotionally
needs to nerve himself for the big game tomorrow
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of nerves
Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
In the fullness of time, Nancy had a Nest camera installed—one of those all-seeing eyes meant to guard the property and calm anxious nerves and provide real safety from intrusion.
—Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2026
It’s almost designed to malfunction when nerves are high.
—Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 31 Mar. 2026
That mix of strength and vulnerability — the confidence alongside the honest admission of nerves — tells you everything about where Dion is right now.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2026
That’s where some nerves may have kicked in for Summit FC.
—Braidon Nourse, Denver Post, 28 Mar. 2026
But with global markets feeling the pain of rising fuel costs and uncertainty about when the conflict in the Middle East may settle, Micron's results did nothing to soothe Wall Street's nerves.
—Ari Levy, CNBC, 27 Mar. 2026
The nerves were to be expected.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 27 Mar. 2026
That turned out to be just a citywide case of nerves.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
Noun
The nerves were there, but so was the excitement.
—Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
In the fullness of time, Nancy had a Nest camera installed—one of those all-seeing eyes meant to guard the property and calm anxious nerves and provide real safety from intrusion.
—Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2026
It’s almost designed to malfunction when nerves are high.
—Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 31 Mar. 2026
That mix of strength and vulnerability — the confidence alongside the honest admission of nerves — tells you everything about where Dion is right now.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2026
That’s where some nerves may have kicked in for Summit FC.
—Braidon Nourse, Denver Post, 28 Mar. 2026
But with global markets feeling the pain of rising fuel costs and uncertainty about when the conflict in the Middle East may settle, Micron's results did nothing to soothe Wall Street's nerves.
—Ari Levy, CNBC, 27 Mar. 2026
The nerves were to be expected.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 27 Mar. 2026
That turned out to be just a citywide case of nerves.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nerves
Noun
-
And some shivers, because that title isn’t a misdirect.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Loznitsa’s methods are grim and exacting, but the effect is never monotonous; there are shivers of Hitchcockian suspense, plus a whispery cackle of satire that veers toward the Kafkaesque.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Vietnam’s airlines are suspending some domestic routes as the country braces for jet fuel shortages.—
Nicholas Gordon,
Fortune,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Whenever the weather changes suddenly, or the skyline becomes shrouded in a windy haze, Fernanda Camarillo braces herself for an asthma attack.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Justin Faulk immediately fortifies Detroit’s second defense pair next to Ben Chiarot.—
The Athletic NHL Staff,
New York Times,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Adding keratin back into hair fortifies the strands ultimately yielding stronger, healthier hair.—
Sophie Wirt,
InStyle,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nerves.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nerves. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
