View synonyms for nervy

nervy

[ nur-vee ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

, nerv·i·er, nerv·i·est.

brashly presumptuous or insolent; pushy:
a nervy thing to say; a nervy trick to pull.
having or showing courage; brave or bold:
the nervy feats of the mountaineers.
strong; sinewy; vigorous:
a hard, nervy physique.
Chiefly British. straining one's patience or forbearance; trying.
nervous; excitable; on edge.

nervy

/ ˈnɜːvɪ /

Origin of nervy¹

First recorded in 1600–10; nerve + -y ¹

Nervy as men are made, MacRae worshiped at the shrine of an even break, a square deal for friend or foe.

He must be getting nervy, he thought, and continued his inspection of the wallet.

The magistrate of Esifeni was not a timid man, but the monotony of life at his remote post rather tended to make him “nervy.”

He was one of the gregarious sort, a loud talker, nervy really, very familiar with all the passengers.

Oh, ho, I see you are not as nervy as I thought, there was a mischievous glint in his merry black eyes.

April 19, 2024tortuous

[tawr-choo-uhs ]

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