Definitions

nervous wreck

ADJECTIVE

fidgety

Synonyms

STRONGEST

apprehensive impatient jittery jumpy restless uneasy

WEAK

antsy high-strung hyper jerky nervous nervy on edge on pins and needles restive spooked spooky twitchy unrestful up the wall wired

Antonyms

STRONGEST

calm composed easygoing laid-back

WEAK

quiet relaxed restful resting still unmoving

ADJECTIVE

neurotic

Synonyms

STRONGEST

compulsive distraught disturbed manic obsessive

STRONG

aberrant deviant hysteric psychoneurotic upset

WEAK

abnormal anxious basket case bundle of nerves choked clutched disordered disoriented erratic hung up inhibited nervous overwrought unhealthy unstable uptight wired

Antonyms

STRONG

normal

WEAK

adjusted balanced sane stable

ADJECTIVE

on edge

Synonyms

WEAK

agitated anxious apprehensive beside oneself bundle of nerves edgy excited fidgety high-strung hyper impatient in a tizzy jittery jumpy nerve-racking nervous overanxious restless stressful unnerved uptight wired worried wound-up

ADJECTIVE

strained

Synonyms

STRONGEST

constrained labored stiff tense tight uneasy

STRONG

choked embarrassed put wired wreck

WEAK

artificial at end of rope awkward difficult false farfetched hard put in a state self-conscious strung-out taut uncomfortable unglued unnatural unrelaxed uptight

Antonyms

STRONGEST

calm comfortable easy easygoing laid-back loose relaxed slack

WEAK

genuine unforced

ADJECTIVE

tense

Synonyms

STRONGEST

agitated anxious apprehensive edgy excited jittery nervous restive shaky strained stressful uneasy

STRONG

choked clutched concerned moved moving shot unnerved wired worried worrying wreck

WEAK

beside oneself bundle of nerves fidgety fluttery high-strung hung up hyper in a tizzy jumpy nerve-racking on edge overanxious overwrought queasy restless shot to pieces strung-out unquiet up the wall uptight white knuckled wound-up

Antonyms

STRONGEST

calm composed easygoing laid-back unafraid unworried

STRONG

happy untroubled

WEAK

limp limpid loose relaxed slack uncaring

NOUN

basket case

Synonyms

WEAK

a bundle of nerves ninnyhammer

NOUN

nervous Nellie

Synonyms

WEAK

a bundle of nerves chicken fraidy-cat pantywaist wimp worrier worrywart wuss

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.

Meanwhile, the experts in Europe are still a nervous wreck.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 18, 2026

Back then, and even now, the assumption is that any 20-year-old rookie entering the major leagues, especially one who didn’t speak English, would be quiet, a bit intimidated, often a nervous wreck.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 27, 2024

The 66-year-old said losing her home had left her feeling like a "nervous wreck".

From BBC • Jun. 20, 2024

What I got from it was this very driven woman who is extremely capable, but sort of a nervous wreck.

From Salon • Feb. 1, 2024

She was shy, and I was a nervous wreck most of the time, but we had fun.

From "Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood" by Trevor Noah

nervous wreck

Example Sentences

Related Words