Bad / Nervous

noun

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tenterhooks - Waiting nervously for something to happen.

After the weeklong trial, we were on tenterhooks waiting for the jury to give its verdict.

adjective

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unnerving - Disturbing or upsetting in a way that makes someone feel anxious or afraid, sometimes leading to a loss of courage, confidence, or composure.

It was an unnerving experience walking alone in the empty and unused area under the highway.

adjective

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jittery - Nervous or unable to relax

The double shot iced coffee from Starbucks made Roman so jittery that he couldn't stand still.

adjective

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defensive - To put oneself in a position that is intended to protect oneself.

One of the challenges of a therapist is to achieve the trust of the patient, and overcome the patient's defensive behavior.

adjective

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perturbed - Feeling unsettled, anxious, or troubled due to confusion, concern, or disruption.

She was visibly perturbed when she found out her flight had been canceled at the last minute.

adjective

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fidgety - Being restless, impatient, and uneasy, and making small bodily movement that reveals that condition.

At first the criminal appeared confident under questioning, but as the hours passed, he started losing his cool and became fidgety.

verb

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falter - To lose strength or momentum; to weaken or stumble; to hesitate in action, purpose, or speech.

Her voice began to falter as she delivered the emotional speech.

adjective

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touchy - Easily offended or sensitive to criticism or comments.

Be careful what you say—he’s really touchy about his artwork.

adjective

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frenetic - Fast and energetic in a rather wild and uncontrolled way

Every James Bond movie features a frenetic car chase that has the audience on the edge of their seats.

noun

See verb

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shock - A jarring event that causes surprise, disbelief, or emotional disturbance.

The shock of the market crash left investors scrambling to adjust their portfolios.

verb

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gnaw - To cause continual distress or discomfort, often in a mental or emotional sense.

Doubts about her decision started to gnaw at her, making it hard to focus.

adjective

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temperamental - Liable to sudden changes in mood or behavior; unpredictable in temperament.

His temperamental nature and frequent outbursts made it hard for the team to rely on him during stressful situations.