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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective nervous contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of nervous are energetic, lusty, strenuous, and vigorous. While all these words mean "having or showing great vitality and force," nervous suggests especially the forcibleness and sustained effectiveness resulting from mental vigor.

full of nervous energy

When is energetic a more appropriate choice than nervous?

Although the words energetic and nervous have much in common, energetic suggests a capacity for intense activity.

an energetic campaigner

When might lusty be a better fit than nervous?

While in some cases nearly identical to nervous, lusty implies exuberant energy and capacity for enjoyment.

a lusty appetite for life

When is it sensible to use strenuous instead of nervous?

While the synonyms strenuous and nervous are close in meaning, strenuous suggests a preference for coping with the arduous or the challenging.

the strenuous life on an oil rig

When can vigorous be used instead of nervous?

The meanings of vigorous and nervous largely overlap; however, vigorous further implies showing no signs of depletion or diminishing of freshness or robustness.

as vigorous as a youth half his age

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 nervous One warning sign for this category: outflows in the last 30 days in Invesco QQQ Trust, a sign some tech momentum investors are getting nervous. Bob Pisani, CNBC, 24 Mar. 2025 The nervous pup can't help but constantly survey his surroundings and even needs some extra support from Shae to comfort him. Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 23 Mar. 2025 But investors around the globe are growing increasingly nervous about the fallout from President Donald Trump’s economic agenda. John Towfighi, CNN, 21 Mar. 2025 The applause Edwards earned for just being there, against the nervous advice of GOP leaders, soon gave way to vocal anger over the Trump administration’s wrecking ball that’s vandalizing jobs and public services, such as veterans’ care, national parks and Social Security offices, across the nation. Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun Sentinel Editorial Boards, Orlando Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for nervous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nervous
Adjective
  • Former Trump economic adviser Stephen Moore is increasingly worried about the ongoing plunge in consumer confidence.
    Matt Egan, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2025
  • If the Yankees are worried about pitching, Kevin Cash isn’t with his Rays.
    Mike Lupica, New York Daily News, 26 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The whole exchange left Brooke feeling a little uneasy.
    Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 20 Mar. 2025
  • And of course, various consumer surveys have showed that Americans are feeling uneasy.
    Bryan Mena, CNN, 14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Charlotte leaned in next to her little brother only for excitable Louis to suddenly turn, accidentally leading to a clash of heads.
    Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025
  • Star is probably the most excitable person in the history of the show.
    Dalton Ross, EW.com, 27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • As the end of the sale nears, the company running things becomes more and more anxious to sell as much of the merchandise as possible.
    Ryan Ermey, CNBC, 22 Mar. 2025
  • Highlight your expertise—maybe that's handling anxious children or those with special needs.
    Ajay Prasad, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • On Friday, another tense hearing between Judge Boasberg and Trump's Justice Department.
    ABC News, ABC News, 23 Mar. 2025
  • This year — in the wake of California wildfires and a tense presidential inauguration — the need to escape felt even more pronounced.
    Danielle Dorsey, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Give me the Bulldogs to pull the biggest upset of the second round.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 22 Mar. 2025
  • In 2018, Ryan Odom led UMBC to the first ever No. 16 upset of a No. 1 in the NCAA Tournament.
    Adam Zagoria, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Other times, Claude’s mental activity seems super disturbing and maybe even dangerous.
    Steven Levy, Wired News, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Just as disturbing and bizarre, at least one juror originally didn’t want to convict Zeigler at all and didn’t vote to do so until after that same judge ordered the bailiff to give her a Valium.
    Scott Maxwell, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Here’s an assessment of the weight of the evidence, after another rough week — but one that ended in a perky, if apprehensive, rally off a six-month low Friday afternoon, leaving the S & P 500 more than 6% from its record high reached less than three weeks ago — in the form of a bull-bear debate.
    Michael Santoli, CNBC, 8 Mar. 2025
  • At the sight of the beautiful low-angle glade covered in undulating powder, the Rogers duo looked equally excited and apprehensive.
    David Goodman, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Nervous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nervous. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.

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