Definition

The quality of being anxious or nervous, often leading to a state of agitation or unease.

Example

Her nerviness before the big presentation was evident as she fidgeted with her notes.

Conversation

I felt a bit of nerviness before my presentation today.

That’s totally normal! Everyone gets nervous sometimes.

Yeah, but I think the nerviness helped me stay focused.

Exactly! A little bit of nerves can actually be a good thing.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Nerviness → It is formed from "nerve" (from Latin "nervus", meaning sinew or nerve) and the suffix "-iness" (meaning the quality of). The word "nerviness" refers to the quality of being nervous or anxious.

Memory Tip

Think of 'nerve' as the source of anxiety and 'iness' as the quality of that state — so nerviness means the quality of being nervous.

Visually Confused Words