NERVE Synonyms: 206 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

nerve 1 of 2

noun

ˈnərv

Definition of nerve

as in gall

shameless boldness you've got a lot of nerve showing up here

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in courage

strength of mind to carry on in spite of danger that daring rescue took some nerve

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in shakes

nerves plural a sense of panic or extreme nervousness a veteran performer who still gets a case of the nerves before performances

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

nerve

2 of 2

verb

as in to brace

to prepare (oneself) mentally or emotionally needs to nerve himself for the big game tomorrow

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Our internal highways are made up of intricate webs of nerves, arteries and glands that snake in and out of our organs. — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 11 Aug. 2026 Hits that touched a societal nerve—The Twilight Zone, Norman Lear sitcoms—earned a place in our collective memory. — Judy Berman, Time, 11 Aug. 2026 Nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy is less invasive than traditional surgery and preserves some or all of the nerve structures that control erectile function, Sperling said. — Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 10 Aug. 2026 When the morning sequence stays the same each day, kids can follow the pattern almost on autopilot even when their nerves are running high. — Ashley Lynch, Miami Herald, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for nerve

Recent Examples of Synonyms for nerve

Noun

After Carl Linnaeus—the father of the discipline, who had the gall to coin Homo sapiens—died in 1778, the slogan Deus creavit, Linnaeus disposuit (God created, Linnaeus organized) began to circulate.

— Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
To tell if an abnormal growth on a tree is a burl or a gall, compare the outer surface and texture of the growth.

— Pamm Cooper, Hartford Courant, 25 July 2026

Definition of gall

Verb

The first two months of summer in western Europe have been the hottest on record, the European Union’s climate monitor said Monday, as the continent grapples with devastating wildfires and braces for yet another heatwave.

— Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
The future appeared to be even more bleak as the archdiocese was bracing for an enrollment of 140 this year and anticipated a $400,000 loss before pulling the plug.

— Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of brace

Noun

Speaking to Julia Cunningham on her eponymous podcast, Adams says the moment when Cecile realizes her half-sister is the serial killer (while her mom was a plain ol’ one-off manslaughterer) still gives her the shivers.

— Bethy Squires, Vulture, 22 July 2026
Judith claims to be a forensic accountant, but is actually a career assassin whose very name sends shivers of fear through her enemies and ones of excitement through her admirers.

— Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 14 July 2026

Definition of shivers

Verb

It’s fortified with vitamins and minerals and contains a probiotic formula for digestive health.

— BestReviews, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2026
The 78-year-old Larson was poised to be influential inside a potential Democratic majority and has led the party on efforts to expand Social Security benefits and fortify the program into the future.

— Benjamin Siegel, ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of fortify

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nerts

nerve

nerve center

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“Nerve.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nerve. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of nerve

noun

verb

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Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on nerve

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Games & Quizzes