jittery

[ jit-uh-ree ]

adjective

, jit·ter·i·er, jit·ter·i·est.

1. extremely tense and nervous; jumpy:

   He's very jittery about the medical checkup.

jittery

/ ˈdʒɪtərɪ /

adjective

1. informal.
   nervous and anxious

Derived Forms

• ˈjitteriness, noun

Other Words From

• jitter·i·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of jittery¹

An Americanism dating back to 1930–35; jitter + -y ¹

Example Sentences

“Golden Age” became an extended jam, and the sold-out crowd, bathed in red light, erupted at the opening notes of the jittery “Wolf Like Me.”

From New York Times

Other Labour figures, though, are privately jittery that all this “looks like the leakers have won”, as one put it to me.

From BBC

Historically, a big jump in rates typically ends in a recession - and the stock market has been jittery over any signs of that the economy is headed for a "hard landing".

From BBC

Each of those measures is also likely to mean disappointed demographic groups, anxious taxpayers, and jittery new MPs’ email inboxes filling up with complaints.

From BBC

Soft-spoken, with jittery knees and scuffed Converse sneakers, Calderon could easily be the face of the lawsuit moving through federal court.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• anxious
• apprehensive
• edgy
• excitable
• fidgety
• jumpy
• panicky
• restless
• shaky
• skittish
• spooked
• tense
• uneasy
• uptight