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
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 Yet nervy investors might be waiting to see how the separation is going for a couple quarters before fully buying in. 
Telis Demos, WSJ, 15 Sep. 2022 But Chalamet—who is often at his best playing nervy, introspective characters—is in full control of Lee’s guard, dropping it as time passes. Douglas Greenwood, Vogue, 2 Sep. 2022 Jabeur drew first blood, forcing a nervy Rybakina to hit from deep in the court. Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 9 July 2022 In Season 1, Joyce Byers was a nervy, terrified single mother whose history of marital suffering gained resonance from Ryder’s presence onscreen. Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 6 July 2022 His earliest rockabilly sides sound raw and nervy, almost primitive in their simplicity, a wildness that’s a foreign concept in modern music. Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2022 On a nervy, topsy-turvy afternoon in eastern Oklahoma, there was yet another dramatic showdown between the dazzling, hard-swinging 20-somethings who have overtaken the game. Bill Pennington, New York Times, 22 May 2022 What your nervy acquaintance did was breach whatever privacy is left in our society these days, which was thoughtless, rude and inexcusable. Abigail Van Buren, oregonlive, 17 May 2022 Dratch transfers her kooky, nervy physicality onto Stephanie, a White House secretary reliant on pump-up playlists to handle the Type A girlbosses around her. New York Times, 10 May 2022 See More
Telis Demos, WSJ, 15 Sep. 2022 But Chalamet—who is often at his best playing nervy, introspective characters—is in full control of Lee’s guard, dropping it as time passes. Douglas Greenwood, Vogue, 2 Sep. 2022 Jabeur drew first blood, forcing a nervy Rybakina to hit from deep in the court. Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 9 July 2022 In Season 1, Joyce Byers was a nervy, terrified single mother whose history of marital suffering gained resonance from Ryder’s presence onscreen. Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 6 July 2022 His earliest rockabilly sides sound raw and nervy, almost primitive in their simplicity, a wildness that’s a foreign concept in modern music. Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2022 On a nervy, topsy-turvy afternoon in eastern Oklahoma, there was yet another dramatic showdown between the dazzling, hard-swinging 20-somethings who have overtaken the game. Bill Pennington, New York Times, 22 May 2022 What your nervy acquaintance did was breach whatever privacy is left in our society these days, which was thoughtless, rude and inexcusable. Abigail Van Buren, oregonlive, 17 May 2022 Dratch transfers her kooky, nervy physicality onto Stephanie, a White House secretary reliant on pump-up playlists to handle the Type A girlbosses around her. New York Times, 10 May 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
nervy
adjective
ˈnər-vē
nervier; nerviest
1
: showing calm courage
The team won after a nervy performance.
2
: showing or acting with disrespectful boldness
nervy
adjective
1
as in cheeky
displaying or marked by rude boldness the nervy waiter held up the small tip and called out to the departing customers, "Hope it doesn't break the bank!" Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- cheeky
- cocky
- impudent
- saucy
- brazen
- brassy
- wise
- defiant
- sassy
- cocksure
- bold
- insolent
- assertive
- brash
- audacious
- fresh
- blunt
- impertinent
- arch
- cute
- brazen-faced
- brassbound
- smart
- disrespectful
- obtrusive
- bold-faced
- forward
- curt
- flippant
- unabashed
- shameless
- mouthy
- bluff
- unblushing
- facetious
- lippy
- pert
- smart-alecky
- flip
- smart-aleck
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- timid
- shy
- meek
- mousy
- modest
- humble
- demure
- proper
- polite
- genteel
- courteous
- retiring
- deferential
- respectful
- mousey
- mild
- mannerly
- embarrassed
- gentle
- shamefaced
- abashed
- inconspicuous
- blushing
- unobtrusive
- ashamed
2
as in adventurous
inclined or willing to take risks nervy rock climbers wanting to make gravity-defying ascents Synonyms & Similar Words
- adventurous
- daring
- fearless
- courageous
- bold
- brave
- gutsy
- adventuresome
- nerved
- enterprising
- audacious
- impulsive
- hardy
- venturous
- reckless
- venturesome
- emboldened
- dashing
- heroic
- valiant
- gallant
- impetuous
- spirited
- madcap
- free-swinging
- incautious
- foolish
- overconfident
- brash
- rash
- heroical
- intrepid
- silly
- wild
- thoughtless
- stupid
- foolhardy
- daredevil
- dauntless
- plucky
- spunky
- imprudent
- gritty
- lionhearted
- hotheaded
- unafraid
- mad
- heedless
- undaunted
- swashbuckling
- hasty
- nutty
- dumb
- overbold
- scatterbrained
- witless
- stalwart
- valorous
- wacky
- crazy
- precipitate
- unnecessary
- irrational
- stouthearted
- absurd
- insane
- unreasonable
- idiotic
- lunatic
- whacky
- stout
- headlong
- moronic
- asinine
- brainless
- balmy
- greathearted
- idiotical
- harebrained
- half-witted
- gadarene
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- timid
- careful
- unadventurous
- timorous
- cautious
- shy
- wary
- pusillanimous
- craven
- cowardly
- milky
- coward
- fearful
- prudent
- frightened
- overcautious
- afraid
- chickenhearted
- unenterprising
- scared
- heedful
- terrified
- lily-livered
- unnerved
- spooked
- alarmed
- startled
- calm
- shocked
- reasonable
- horrified
- sensible
- rational
- fainthearted
- milk-livered
- poltroon
- upset
- wise
- cool
- sane
- sound
- worried
- levelheaded
- overcareful
- affrighted
- terrorized
- concerned
- dismayed
- appalled
- sage
3
as in nervous
feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty I'm a little nervy about my first job interview Synonyms & Similar Words
- nervous
- worried
- anxious
- upset
- uneasy
- troubled
- apprehensive
- tense
- jittery
- uptight
- perturbed
- jumpy
- concerned
- edgy
- flustered
- insecure
- disturbed
- dithery
- goosey
- queasy
- hesitant
- antsy
- on edge
- unquiet
- on tenterhooks
- keyed up
- distraught
- restless
- bothered
- queazy
- hinky
- preoccupied
- fretful
- freaked
- aflutter
- aggrieved
- obsessed
- het up
- ill at ease
- hung up
- disquieted
- foreboding
- distressed
- atwitter
- vexed
- freaked-out
- on pins and needles
- fidgety
- misgiving
- fretting
- unnerved
- stewing
- flighty
- shook-up
- spooky
- fluttery
- unstrung
- skittish
- high-strung
- qualmish
- undone
- twittered
- qualmy
- hypertense
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- nerveless
- calm
- easy
- relaxed
- cool
- collected
- confident
- sure
- happy-go-lucky
- controlled
- self-assured
- self-confident
- self-controlled