Nerve — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈnərv/

Meaning & Definition of Nerve

Nerve (noun)

  1. sinew, tendon
  2. any of the filamentous bands of nervous tissue that connect parts of the nervous system with the other organs, conduct nerve impulses, and are made up of axons and dendrites together with protective and supportive structures
  3. power of endurance or control, fortitude, strength

Nerve (verb)

  1. to give strength or courage to, supply with physical or moral force

Nerve (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. shameless boldness

    "you've got a lot of nerve showing up here"

    similar: audaciousness, audacity, brashness, brass, brassiness, brazenness, cheek, cheekiness, chutzpah, crust, effrontery, face, gall, nerviness, pertness, presumption, presumptuousness, sauce, sauciness, temerity
    related: arrogance, assurance, cockiness, confidence, hardihood, overconfidence, sanguinity, self-assurance, self-confidence, discourteousness, disrespect, impertinence, impoliteness, impudence, incivility, inconsiderateness, inconsideration, insolence, rudeness, ungraciousness, back talk, sass, swagger, swash
    near: bashfulness, diffidence, faintheartedness, hesitancy, modesty, shyness, timidity, timidness, timorousness, civility, courteousness, courtesy, gentility, graciousness, mannerliness, manners

  2. strength of mind to carry on in spite of danger

    "that daring rescue took some nerve"

    similar: bottle (British slang), bravery, courage, courageousness, daring, daringness, dauntlessness, doughtiness, fearlessness, gallantry, greatheartedness, guts, gutsiness, hardihood, heart, heroism, intestinal fortitude, intrepidity, intrepidness, moxie, pecker (chiefly British), prowess, stoutness, valor, virtue
    related: backbone, fiber, fortitude, grit, gumption, mettle, pluck, pluckiness, spunk, temper, determination, perseverance, resolution, endurance, stamina, stomach, tenacity, audacity, boldness, brazenness, cheek, cojones (slang), effrontery, gall, temerity
    opposite: cowardice, cowardliness, cravenness, dastardliness, poltroonery, spinelessness
    near: cold feet, faintheartedness, fearfulness, mousiness, timidity, timorousness, feebleness, softness, weakness, impotence, ineffectualness, hesitation, indecision, indecisiveness, irresolution

  3. a sense of panic or extreme nervousness

    "a veteran performer who still gets a case of the nerves before performances"

    similar: butterflies, dither, heebie-jeebies, jimjams, jitters, screaming meemies, shakes, shivers, whim-whams, willies
    related: cold sweat, creeps, fidgets, goose bumps, agitation, anxiety, fear, hysteria, uneasiness, frazzle, nervous breakdown, edginess, jumpiness, skittishness
    near: aplomb, calm, composure, equanimity, imperturbability, self-possession, tranquility

Nerve (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to prepare (oneself) mentally or emotionally

    "needs to nerve himself for the big game tomorrow"

    similar: brace, forearm, fortify, poise, psych (up), ready, steel, strengthen
    related: arm, harden, inure, season, toughen, bolster, boost, buoy (up), buttress, enforce, prop (up), reinforce, support, sustain, cheer (up), comfort, embolden, encourage, hearten, inspire, rally, rouse, stir
    near: daunt, demoralize, discourage, dishearten, dispirit, psych (out), shake, unnerve, debilitate, enervate, enfeeble, prostrate, sap, soften, tire, undercut, undermine, weaken

Related Entry: Nerve center (noun)

Nerve center is a different word from Nerve. The synonyms below are for nerve center, not for nerve.

  1. a thing or place that is of greatest importance to an activity or interest

    "Wall Street's undisputed status as the nerve center for the world of high finance"

    similar: axis, base, capital, center, central, core, cynosure, epicenter, eye, focus, ground zero, heart, hub, locus, mecca, navel, nexus, nucleus, omphalos, seat, where it's at
    related: headquarters, happy hunting ground, hive, hotbed, hot spot, playground, playland, kernel, nub, pith, deep, thick, essence, quintessence, soul, attraction, lodestone, magnet, polestar

Related Entry: Nerve-racking (adjective)

Nerve-racking is a different word from Nerve. The synonyms below are for nerve-racking, not for nerve.

  1. marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings

    "the nerve-racking wait to learn the identities of the passengers who were killed in the plane crash"

    similar: agitating, anxious, creepy, disquieting, distressful, distressing, disturbing, fraught, hairy, nail-biting, nervous, restless, tense, uneasy, unnerving, unsettling, worrisome
    related: bothersome, troublesome, foreboding, misgiving, discouraging, disheartening, strained, restive, unrestful, awkward, embarrassing
    opposite: calming, comfortable, easy, peaceful, quiet, quieting, tranquil
    near: restful, pacific

Related Entry: Nerve centers (noun)

Nerve centers is a different word from Nerve. The synonyms below are for nerve centers, not for nerve.

  1. a thing or place that is of greatest importance to an activity or interest

    "Wall Street's undisputed status as the nerve center for the world of high finance"

    similar: axes, bases, capitals, centers, centrals, cores, cynosures, epicenters, eyes, foci, ground zeros, hearts, hubs, loci, meccas, navels, nexuses, nuclei, omphali, seats
    related: headquarters, happy hunting grounds, hives, hotbeds, hot spots, playgrounds, playlands, kernels, nubs, piths, deeps, thicks, essences, quintessences, souls, attractions, lodestones, magnets, polestars

Related Entry: Accessory (noun)

Accessory is a different word from Nerve. The synonyms below are for accessory, not for nerve.

  1. something that is not necessary in itself but adds to the convenience or performance of the main piece of equipment

    "bought a new car with lots of high-tech accessories"

    similar: accoutrement, adapter, add-on, adjunct, appendage, appliance, attachment, option
    related: accompaniment, additive, complement, supplement, auxiliary, subsidiary, amenity, doodad, embroidery, extra, filler, frill, incidental, luxury, nonessential, nonnecessity, appurtenances, bells and whistles, equipment, furnishings, habiliment(s), paraphernalia, trappings, adornment, decoration, embellishment, enhancement, garnish, ornament, trim, trimming
    near: essential, necessity, requirement, requisite

  2. one associated with another in wrongdoing

    "two accessories, the driver of the getaway car and the dishonest bank teller, were charged in the robbery case"

    similar: abettor, accomplice, cohort, confederate
    related: collaborationist, collaborator, informant, informer, evidence, state's evidence, companion, comrade, crony, henchman, partner, conspirator, plotter, traitor, gangster, mobster, racketeer

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Nerve

The most common words with a similar meaning to Nerve:

British slang: bottle
Chiefly British: pecker
audaciousness, audacity, brashness, brass, brassiness, brazenness, cheek, cheekiness, chutzpah, crust, effrontery, face, gall, nerviness, pertness, presumption, presumptuousness, sauce, sauciness, temerity, bravery, courage, courageousness, daring, daringness, dauntlessness, doughtiness, fearlessness, gallantry, greatheartedness, guts, gutsiness, hardihood, heart, heroism, intestinal fortitude, intrepidity, intrepidness, moxie, prowess

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Nerve

Words with the opposite meaning of Nerve:

cowardice, cowardliness, cravenness, dastardliness, poltroonery, spinelessness

Related Words for Nerve

arrogance, assurance, cockiness, confidence, overconfidence, sanguinity, self-assurance, self-confidence, discourteousness, disrespect, impertinence, impoliteness, impudence, incivility, inconsiderateness, inconsideration, insolence, rudeness, ungraciousness, back talk, sass, swagger, swash, backbone, fiber, fortitude, grit, gumption, mettle, pluck

Near Antonyms of Nerve

bashfulness, diffidence, faintheartedness, hesitancy, modesty, shyness, timidity, timidness, timorousness, civility, courteousness, courtesy, gentility, graciousness, mannerliness, manners, cold feet, fearfulness, mousiness, feebleness, softness, weakness, impotence, ineffectualness, hesitation, indecision, indecisiveness, irresolution, aplomb, calm

Word Forms of Nerve

Inflections: nerved, nerving

Origin & Etymology of Nerve

Latin nervus sinew, nerve; akin to Greek neuron sinew, nerve, nēn to spin needle

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Nerve

Words & Phrases Containing Nerve

nerve agent, nerve cell, nerve center, nerve cord, nerve ending, nerve fiber, nerve gas, nerve growth factor

Frequently Asked Questions about Nerve

What does "Nerve" mean?

"Nerve" means sinew, tendon. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: sinew, tendon. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Nerve"?

Other words for "Nerve" include audaciousness, audacity, brashness, brass, brassiness, brazenness, cheek and cheekiness. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Nerve" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Nerve"?

There are 142 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Nerve". Common alternatives include audaciousness, audacity, brashness, brass, brassiness, brazenness, cheek, cheekiness, chutzpah and crust.

What is the opposite of "Nerve"?

Antonyms of "Nerve" include cowardice, cowardliness, cravenness, dastardliness, poltroonery and spinelessness. Near antonyms include bashfulness, diffidence, faintheartedness and hesitancy.

How do you use "Nerve" in a sentence?

Examples of "Nerve" in a sentence: "you've got a lot of nerve showing up here"; "that daring rescue took some nerve"; "a veteran performer who still gets a case of the nerves before performances".

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

"Nerve" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Nerve" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Nerve" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Nerve"?

"Nerve" is pronounced /ˈnərv/.