heebie-jeebies

[hee-bee-jee-beez] / ˈhi biˈdʒi biz /

NOUN

jitters

Synonyms

STRONG

anxiety dither fidget fidgets jump jumps nerves shakes shiver shivers tenseness tremble willies

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

I’d love to understand why horror films that I find excruciatingly dull give others the heebie-jeebies.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 11, 2026

You’re living with a large cushion that should ease any of those financial heebie-jeebies.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 29, 2026

That is a double dose of the heebie-jeebies delivered in one day to nervous Tories.

From BBC • Feb. 16, 2024

But even I have to admit that the clowns I come across from old circuses give me the heebie-jeebies.

From Salon • Nov. 12, 2022

He had the jitters and the heebie-jeebies, a feeling deep in his stomach that something was entirely wrong.

From "American Gods" by Neil Gaiman