Edgy — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˈe-jē/

Meaning & Definition of Edgy

Edgy (adjective)

  1. having an edge, sharp
  2. being on edge, tense, irritable
  3. characterized by tension

Edgy (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty

    "with an edgy voice the spelling-bee contestant started to spell the tongue twister"

    similar: aflutter, antsy, anxious, atwitter, dithery, goosey, het up, hinky (slang), hung up, ill at ease, insecure, jittery, jumpy, nervous, nervy, perturbed, queasy, tense, troubled, uneasy, unquiet, upset, uptight, worried, keyed up, on edge, on pins and needles, on tenterhooks
    related: aggrieved, bothered, concerned, disquieted, distraught, distressed, disturbed, freaked, freaked-out, shook-up, apprehensive, foreboding, hesitant, misgiving, fretful, fretting, stewing, vexed, qualmish, qualmy, flustered, twittered, undone, unnerved, unstrung, obsessed, preoccupied, restless, fidgety, flighty, fluttery, high-strung, hypertense, skittish, spooky
    opposite: calm, collected, cool, easy, happy-go-lucky, nerveless, relaxed
    near: confident, self-assured, self-confident, sure, controlled, self-controlled

  2. having an edge thin enough to cut or pierce something

    "be careful as you walk along the beach—those broken clam shells are edgy enough to cut your feet"

    similar: cutting, edged, ground, honed, keen, sharp, sharpened, stropped, trenchant, whetted
    related: clawlike, daggerlike, knifelike, jabbing, jagged, lacerating, piercing, scratching, stabbing, pointed, pointy, spiky
    opposite: blunt, blunted, dull, dulled, obtuse
    near: rounded, smooth, soft, even, flat, level, slick

  3. serving or likely to arouse a strong reaction

    "a director known for his edgy, over-the-top satires on modern life"

    similar: charged, exciting, inciting, instigating, instigative, piquing, provocative, provoking, stimulating
    related: explosive, fiery, incendiary, inflammatory, triggering, inducing, inspirational, inspiring, motivating, motivational, motivative, jeering, taunting, teasing, activating, energizing, galvanizing, quickening, vitalizing, angering, enraging, maddening, upsetting, aggravating, annoying, bothersome, exasperating, galling, irksome, irritating, pesky, vexatious, vexing
    opposite: noninflammatory
    near: subduing

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Edgy

The most common words with a similar meaning to Edgy:

Slang: hinky
aflutter, antsy, anxious, atwitter, dithery, goosey, het up, hung up, ill at ease, insecure, jittery, jumpy, nervous, nervy, perturbed, queasy, tense, troubled, uneasy, unquiet, upset, uptight, worried, cutting, edged, ground, honed, keen, sharp, sharpened, stropped, trenchant, whetted, charged, exciting, inciting, instigating, instigative, piquing, provocative

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Edgy

Words with the opposite meaning of Edgy:

calm, collected, cool, easy, happy-go-lucky, nerveless, relaxed, blunt, blunted, dull, dulled, obtuse, noninflammatory

Related Words for Edgy

aggrieved, bothered, concerned, disquieted, distraught, distressed, disturbed, freaked, freaked-out, shook-up, apprehensive, foreboding, hesitant, misgiving, fretful, fretting, stewing, vexed, qualmish, qualmy, flustered, twittered, undone, unnerved, unstrung, obsessed, preoccupied, restless, fidgety, flighty

Near Antonyms of Edgy

confident, self-assured, self-confident, sure, controlled, self-controlled, rounded, smooth, soft, even, flat, level, slick, subduing

Word Forms of Edgy

Inflections: edgier, edgiest

Derived words: edgily (adverb), edginess (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Edgy

First known use: 1634

Frequently Asked Questions about Edgy

What does "Edgy" mean?

"Edgy" means having an edge, sharp. As an adjective, it is defined as: having an edge, sharp. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Edgy"?

Other words for "Edgy" include aflutter, antsy, anxious, atwitter, dithery, goosey, het up and hinky. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Edgy" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Edgy"?

There are 127 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Edgy". Common alternatives include aflutter, antsy, anxious, atwitter, dithery, goosey, het up, hinky, hung up and ill at ease.

What is the opposite of "Edgy"?

Antonyms of "Edgy" include calm, collected, cool, easy, happy-go-lucky, nerveless, relaxed and blunt. Near antonyms include confident, self-assured, self-confident and sure.

How do you use "Edgy" in a sentence?

Examples of "Edgy" in a sentence: "with an edgy voice the spelling-bee contestant started to spell the tongue twister"; "be careful as you walk along the beach—those broken clam shells are edgy enough to cut your feet"; "a director known for his edgy, over-the-top satires on modern life".

Is "Edgy" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Edgy" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Edgy"?

"Edgy" is pronounced /ˈe-jē/.

What is the origin of the word "Edgy"?

First known use: 1634.