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nerve

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word nerve different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of nerve are audacity, cheek, chutzpah, effrontery, gall, hardihood, and temerity. While all these words mean "conspicuous or flagrant boldness," nerve, cheek, gall, and chutzpah are informal equivalents for effrontery.

the nerve of that guy
has the cheek to call herself a singer
had the gall to demand proof
the chutzpah needed for a career in show business

Where would audacity be a reasonable alternative to nerve?

The words audacity and nerve are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, audacity implies a disregard of restraints commonly imposed by convention or prudence.

an entrepreneur with audacity and vision

When is it sensible to use effrontery instead of nerve?

Although the words effrontery and nerve have much in common, effrontery implies shameless, insolent disregard of propriety or courtesy.

outraged at his effrontery

When could hardihood be used to replace nerve?

In some situations, the words hardihood and nerve are roughly equivalent. However, hardihood suggests firmness in daring and defiance.

admired for her hardihood

When is temerity a more appropriate choice than nerve?

The synonyms temerity and nerve are sometimes interchangeable, but temerity suggests boldness arising from rashness and contempt of danger.

had the temerity to refuse

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of nerve
Noun
After being 195 for 4 off 36, 265 was still going to ask questions of India’s nerve. Tim Ellis, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025 Boston then needed two points in the final hole to take the matchup to overtime, but New York’s Schauffele held his nerve to seal the victory with a fine chip from seven feet. Ben Church, CNN, 4 Mar. 2025 The timeliness of the conversation hits a different nerve today, with President Donald Trump back in the White House, but Bibb reveals this was written in 2022 and shot last year. Colleen Kratofil, People.com, 3 Mar. 2025 But giggles gave way to nerves when Parasite lost the next two awards for which it was nominated, best production design and film editing. Scott Feinberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for nerve
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nerve
Noun
  • Our study also identified other risks, including low blood pressure, sleep problems, headaches, formation of kidney stones, and gall bladder disease and diseases associated with the bile ducts.
    Ziyad Al-Aly, The Conversation, 22 Jan. 2025
  • Coordinators have rarely had the gall to try to run it in those spots, but the Lions did and scored.
    Alec Lewis, The Athletic, 1 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • That all-important contrast is missing (as are any employees who do the manual labor of cleaning up after the guests), which is why the show feels like a deflated satire that never had the courage of its convictions to begin with.
    Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 26 Feb. 2025
  • While initially working in a hair salon in his hometown of Houston, Guerrero worked up the courage to move to L.A. to pursue his dreams.
    Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 26 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • However, some have highlighted early warning signs, like the decline in discretionary spending in the Bureau of Economic Analysis' most recent consumer spending report, suggesting that Americans are bracing for potential economic challenges.
    Russel Honoré, Newsweek, 6 Mar. 2025
  • Playback footage also shows both Hudson and Common bracing for the incoming impact of the ball.
    Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 5 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • But what unfolded in the White House on Friday was a striking departure—an unprecedented display of hostility, arrogance, and political theater that raises serious concerns about America's global leadership.
    Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025
  • Reportedly, Tulip mastermind Charles Hegel (played with perfect measure of condescending arrogance by Josh Brener) has died in Kenya, and took with him all the necessary passwords needed to access the accounts of his many investors.
    Joe Leydon, Variety, 28 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • The production encapsulated his bravery, wit and charm.
    Joshua Barone, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2025
  • Gryffindor stands for bravery, courage and chivalry; Hufflepuff is known for loyalty, kindness and hard work; Ravenclaw values wisdom, wit and a love of learning; Slytherin represents ambition, resourcefulness and determination.
    Kelsey Lentz, People.com, 17 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Its design aligns with the relentless pace of business leadership, preserving revenue while fortifying resilience. 2.
    Jaime Catmull, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
  • This winter has fortified Liam’s allegiance to the Terps (21-6, 10-5 Big Ten).
    Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 25 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • The heroism of our firefighters — during the Palisades fire and every single day — is without question.
    Ethan Millman, Rolling Stone, 21 Feb. 2025
  • Those award-winning victimhood stereotypes equate social grievances with mundane heroism while Leigh’s close-up view of individual psychological stress seems designed to overpower banal politicization.
    Armond White, National Review, 21 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Europe and the United States must steel themselves for a long and painful process.
    Wolfgang Ischinger, Foreign Affairs, 2 Mar. 2025
  • The speaker here is one of those men — summoning his courage in the face of terror, steeling himself for the unimaginable.
    A.O. Scott, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Nerve.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nerve. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

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