Word Study
nervy
CIDE DICTIONARY
nervy, a.
- Strong; sinewy. Keats. [1913 Webster]
- Offensively bold or presumptuous; insolent; cheeky; pushy. [PJC]
- Exhibiting courage or daring; bold; plucky. [PJC]
- Nervous{6}; apprehensive; edgy{1}. [PJC]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
nervy, adj. (nervier, nerviest)
1 nervous; easily excited or disturbed.
2 US bold, impudent.
3 archaic sinewy, strong.
1 nervous; easily excited or disturbed.
2 US bold, impudent.
3 archaic sinewy, strong.
Derivative
nervily adv. nerviness n.
THESAURUS
nervy
agitated, all nerves, apprehensive, beefy, biggety, bluff, bold, bouncing, brash, bulldoggish, cheeky, chutzpadik, cocky, contemptuous, crusty, derisive, discomposed, disquieted, disrespectful, disturbed, doughty, edgy, excitable, excited, facy, fearful, feverish, fidgety, flip, flippant, flurried, flustered, forceful, forcible, forcy, forward, fresh, frightened, full-blooded, full-strength, gally, game, gamy, goosey, gratuitous, gritty, gutsy, gutty, hale, hard, hard as nails, hardy, hearty, hefty, high-strung, husky, impertinent, impudent, iron-hard, irritable, jerky, jittery, jumpy, lusty, malapert, mettlesome, mighty, nerves on edge, nervous, obstinate, on edge, overstrung, panicky, pert, pertinacious, perturbed, plucky, potent, powerful, puissant, red-blooded, resolute, restive, restless, robust, robustious, rude, ruffled, rugged, sassy, saucy, shaken, shaken up, smart, smart-alecky, smart-ass, spirited, spiritful, spooky, spunky, stalwart, steely, stirred up, stout, strapping, strong, strong as brandy, strong as strong, strong-willed, sturdy, tenacious, tense, tough, troubled, troublous, turbulent, twitchy, twittery, uncalled-for, uneasy, unpeaceful, unquiet, unrestful, upset, uptight, vigorous, wise-assFor further exploring for "nervy" in Webster Dictionary Online
