the jitters
plural noun
informal
: a very nervous feeling
I always get (a bad case of) the jitters before I have to give a speech.
Examples of the jitters in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But the jitters still shook him, a false-start whistle blowing on his first 40-yard attempt at February’s NFL combine.
—
Luca Evans, Denver Post, 13 Apr. 2025
In all, Wall Street created and vaporized nearly $6 trillion in market capitalization in the span of 30 minutes, highlighting the extent of the jitters that are materializing across various sectors of the economy over the tariff policy and its rollout.
—John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Apr. 2025
After the opening bell on Wall Street on April 3, the Dow fell sharply in early trading and did not rebound later in the day, mirroring global markets and adding to the jitters for many Americans.
—Russ Wiles, USA Today, 6 Apr. 2025
The Huskies were unscathed through the jitters and what proved to be South Carolina’s best shot.
—Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
In recent months, Cat & Cloud Coffee, based in Santa Cruz, California, has rejected landlords’ offers to open new cafes in the city because of the jitters generated by Trump’s tariffs, said company owner Charles Jack.
—Paul Davidson, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2025
The Bulldogs felt the jitters of playing in their first D-I NCAA Tournament game.
—Cj Moore, The Athletic, 21 Mar. 2025
Image In a sign of the jitters among some Syrians, a posting on a Facebook page run by the Education Ministry this week described a new curriculum that was interpreted by some as taking a more Islamist slant.
—Aaron Boxerman, New York Times, 3 Jan. 2025
Each ½ ounce bar of infused white chocolate contains about the same caffeine as a cup of coffee, and the mind-sharpening boost kicks in without the jitters.
—Mary-Frances Heck, Outside Online, 26 Nov. 2024
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Luca Evans, Denver Post, 13 Apr. 2025
In all, Wall Street created and vaporized nearly $6 trillion in market capitalization in the span of 30 minutes, highlighting the extent of the jitters that are materializing across various sectors of the economy over the tariff policy and its rollout.
—John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Apr. 2025
After the opening bell on Wall Street on April 3, the Dow fell sharply in early trading and did not rebound later in the day, mirroring global markets and adding to the jitters for many Americans.
—Russ Wiles, USA Today, 6 Apr. 2025
The Huskies were unscathed through the jitters and what proved to be South Carolina’s best shot.
—Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
In recent months, Cat & Cloud Coffee, based in Santa Cruz, California, has rejected landlords’ offers to open new cafes in the city because of the jitters generated by Trump’s tariffs, said company owner Charles Jack.
—Paul Davidson, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2025
The Bulldogs felt the jitters of playing in their first D-I NCAA Tournament game.
—Cj Moore, The Athletic, 21 Mar. 2025
Image In a sign of the jitters among some Syrians, a posting on a Facebook page run by the Education Ministry this week described a new curriculum that was interpreted by some as taking a more Islamist slant.
—Aaron Boxerman, New York Times, 3 Jan. 2025
Each ½ ounce bar of infused white chocolate contains about the same caffeine as a cup of coffee, and the mind-sharpening boost kicks in without the jitters.
—Mary-Frances Heck, Outside Online, 26 Nov. 2024
Cite this Entry
“The jitters.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20jitters. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.
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