NERVOUS


Meaning of NERVOUS in English

adjective

1

BAD : Thinking she might be hurt, I felt very nervous.

GOOD : Thinking she might be hurt, I felt very anxious.

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nervous = worried and unable to relax, especially because you lack confidence: 'There's no need to be so nervous. It's only an interview.'

anxious = very worried about something which may happen or may have happened: 'I knew that there were no sharks around but all the same I couldn't help feeling anxious.'

2

BAD : What really made me nervous was the way he kept pulling my sleeve.

GOOD : What really irritated me was the way he kept pulling my sleeve.

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nervous = worried and unable to relax: 'I hate the way the teacher watches me when I'm working - it makes me feel nervous.'

irritate = (of something unpleasant that happens repeatedly or continuously) make someone feel slightly angry; annoy: 'His attempts to sound important irritate people.'

Note the alternative: 'What I found really irritating was the way ... '

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