1
as in worried
feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty
he was nervous about how he would do at the varsity basketball tryouts
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in uneasy
marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings
a nervous silence filled the room as the teacher handed out the graded exams
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in excitable
easily excited by nature
a nervous sort of person, she's completely thrown by anything unexpected
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of nervous
By revealing the limits of Putin’s power, Ukraine has to be making his allies and flatterers very nervous.
—
Phillips Payson O’Brien,
The Atlantic,
30 June 2026
The irony is that in not trying to pass muster with more conservative theatergoers (and their fastidious institutional guardians), playwrights have been winning over not just critics but also formerly squeamish artistic directors and perennially nervous Broadway producers.
—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
29 June 2026
Many of them are nervous about what the future will hold.
—
Syra Ortiz Blanes,
Miami Herald,
26 June 2026
Pierzynski was admittedly nervous going into the meeting.
—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
26 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for nervous
Phillips Payson O’Brien,
The Atlantic,
30 June 2026
The irony is that in not trying to pass muster with more conservative theatergoers (and their fastidious institutional guardians), playwrights have been winning over not just critics but also formerly squeamish artistic directors and perennially nervous Broadway producers.
—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
29 June 2026
Many of them are nervous about what the future will hold.
—
Syra Ortiz Blanes,
Miami Herald,
26 June 2026
Pierzynski was admittedly nervous going into the meeting.
—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
26 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for nervous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nervous
Adjective
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The city is recommending zoning regulations that fall in line with state statute while trying to calm residents who are worried data centers will overwhelm resources like water and energy and impose on their quality of life.
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Hollywood insider Rob Shuter is reporting that guests to the wedding are worried about the itinerary and the scale of the celebration.
Adjective
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The company and the government have since seemed to settle into an uneasy truce.
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But some retirees remain uneasy about security concerns, healthcare quality, and property ownership structures.
Adjective
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The studio released the official trailer for the film on Thursday, showing Edgar-Jones as the formidable Elinor Dashwood; Esmé Creed-Miles as her excitable sister, Marianne; and Bodhi Rae Breathnach as their youngest sibling, Margaret.
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The excitable kids had been instructed several times to give Bryce Young room.
Adjective
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Max is accompanied on his adventures by anxious robot C-3PO AB Sitter, and FX, a magical alien masquerading as a toy who can turn the kid's implausibly impressive sand sculptures into fully functioning robots.
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America’s centennial in 1876 was celebrated with a grand exhibition that projected an image of national unity and inventiveness in the anxious aftermath of civil war and recession.
Adjective
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In May, during a tense commission meeting, a majority of commissioners declined to give her a raise after her first year on the job.
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Both of these factors lead to tense – but also quite funny –moments.
Adjective
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Play was held up after some upset fans threw things onto the field after the controversial offside call.
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Usually, when the USMNT enters the knockout stage in the World Cup, they’re considered the underdogs, hoping to be scrappy to force an upset.
Adjective
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There were many disturbing parts of Kerstin’s story left unpursued.
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The film is a modern take on the creature horror film told from the perspective of a young boy who slowly begins to discover that his beloved parents are hiding a disturbing secret about his mother’s true nature.
Adjective
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The report comes with Federal Reserve policymakers expressing mixed feelings about the economy – mostly positive on growth though apprehensive on inflation as earlier fears about weakness in the labor market have eased.
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Testa was apprehensive at first.
Cite this Entry
“Nervous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nervous. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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