nerve

13 synonyms and 2 antonyms for nerve, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — A fiber-like bundle in the body that carries signals between the brain and other parts of the body.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

courage face heart steel

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

guts backbone cheek brass

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

boldness audacity pluck mettle nervus

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

A fiber-like bundle in the body that carries signals between the brain and other parts of the body.

“A trapped nerve in her neck made it painful to turn her head.”

courage boldness guts audacity pluck backbone face cheek heart mettle nervus brass

2. noun

Courage or boldness, especially in a difficult or risky situation.

“He lost his nerve at the top of the diving board.”

Opposites

weakness

3. verb

To give someone courage or strength to face something difficult.

“She nerved herself to dive from the high board for the first time.”

steel

Opposites

enervate

How to use nerve

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

get on someone's nerves lose your nerve nerve-wracking a bundle of nerves

Etymology

From Latin nervus ("sinew, nerve"), via Medieval Latin. A doublet of "sinew" and "neuron."

Full origin of nerve →

Frequently asked questions

What does “nerve” mean?

The word “nerve” means a fiber-like bundle in the body that carries signals between the brain and other parts of the body. In plain terms, either the biological fiber that carries signals in the body, or the courage/anxiety associated with the same word.

How do you pronounce “nerve”?

“Nerve” is pronounced nurv (/nɝv/ in IPA).

How do you use “nerve” in a sentence?

Here is “nerve” used in a sentence: “The surgeon worked carefully to avoid damaging the nerve.”

What part of speech is “nerve”?

Depending on how it is used, “nerve” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “nerve” come from?

The word “nerve” comes from Medieval Latin. From Latin nervus ("sinew, nerve"), via Medieval Latin. A doublet of "sinew" and "neuron.".

Is “nerve” a common word?

“Nerve” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “nerve” have?

“Nerve” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a fiber-like bundle in the body that carries signals between the brain and other parts of the body.

What is the difference between a 'nerve' and a 'vein'?

A nerve is a fiber-like bundle that carries signals between the brain and other parts of the body. A vein is a blood vessel that carries blood back to the heart, so the two serve completely different functions despite both running through the body.

Does 'nerve' mean courage or rudeness?

It can mean either, depending on context. 'She had the nerve to speak up' praises courage or boldness, while 'He had the nerve to ask for more' implies cheek or audacity that the speaker disapproves of.

People also searched

face heart steel courage weakness brass cheek guts backbone audacity pluck enervate

Nearby words

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