nervy
Full of audacity
Nervy has two nearly opposite meanings depending on where you are.
In American English, nervy means bold or impudent—showing audacious nerve: It was nervy of him to ask for a raise after missing so many deadlines.
In British English, nervy means nervous or anxious—having troubled nerves: She was nervy before the interview.
Context usually makes the intended sense clear.
Recklessly or disrespectfully fearless
- brazenShamelessly bold
- cheekyPlayfully disrespectful
- impudentDisrespectfully bold
- brashOffensively self-assertive
presumptuous · forward · pushy · impertinent · cocky · sassy · fresh · insolent
Anxiously restless
- apprehensiveFearful of future events
- uneasyTroubled, not calm
- worriedTroubled by uncertainty
- stressedOverwhelmed by pressure
on edge · high-strung · overwrought · fidgety · twitchy · restless · skittish · agitated
Showing courage despite fear
- fearlessLacking any apprehension
- gutsyInformally courageous
- pluckyCourageous despite disadvantage
- spunkyCourageous and lively
intrepid · valiant · gallant · dauntless · undaunted · stouthearted · lionhearted · mettlesome
audacious
Recklessly or disrespectfully fearless
brash · presumptuous · forward · pushy · impertinent · cocky · sassy · fresh · insolent · shameless
jittery
Anxiously restless
- apprehensiveFearful of future events
- uneasyTroubled, not calm
- worriedTroubled by uncertainty
stressed · on edge · high-strung · overwrought · fidgety · twitchy · restless · skittish · agitated · jumpy
brave
Showing courage despite fear
spunky · intrepid · valiant · gallant · dauntless · undaunted · stouthearted · lionhearted · mettlesome · gritty
- couragebravery, resilience, fearlessness, boldness, courage
- shamelessshameless, brazen, unabashed, barefaced, unapologetic
- tough traitstough, resilient, fearless, brave, courageous
- contronymscleave, sanction, bolt, dust, fast
- nervous wreckPerson overwhelmed by anxiety
- nervous breakdownAcute mental health crisis
- hit a nerveTrigger emotional sensitivity
- nervous systemSignal transmission network
- bundle of nervesExtremely anxious person
- vagus nerveMajor parasympathetic cranial pathway
nerve, nervous, nerves, nervousness, nerved, nerveless, unnerved, unnerving, enervate