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jittery

jittery

26 4.5
Feeling nervous and unable to stay still
  • adjective
  • /ˈdʒɪtəri/
translation icon : nervioso
  • After drinking too much coffee, he became jittery and couldn't sit still.

I was very, very, very jittery for quite some time.

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Examples

Synonyms

nervous
vsjittery
1.3

Feeling worried and easily frightened

includes that unease but also shows visible quick, jerky motion
anxious
vsjittery
201 2.7

Feeling worried or nervous about something that might happen

overlaps in unease but includes restless movement and quick physical signs
uptight
vsjittery
  • Informal
77 5.0

Nervous and tense so you cannot relax

shows inner tension but also visible quick jerky movements
jumpy
vsjittery
  • Informal
54 4.3

Feeling nervous and easily startled by sudden sounds

shares startle tendency but adds continuous restlessness and jerky movement
edgy
vsjittery
41 5.2

Feeling nervous and tense, easily upset

is more physically restless and shows quicker, jumpier movements
squirrelly
vsjittery
  • Informal
10 9.1

Feeling nervous and acting in strange, unpredictable ways

is similar but more clearly nervous and physically jumpy rather than odd
twitchy
vsjittery
  • Informal
9 4.6

Feeling nervous and unable to stay still

adds a broader shaky energy and more visible quick jerks
fidgety
vsjittery
8 4.8

Unable to stay still because you feel nervous

is similar but includes quick, jerky motion as well as general anxiety
restive
vsjittery
6 8.3

Not able to stay still because you feel impatient or nervous

is driven more by anxiety and quick, jerky movement than impatience
fluttery
vsjittery
2 4.9

Feeling nervous and excited with a quick, shaky feeling in the body

is like this but often more sharp and jerky rather than light
atwitter
vsjittery
  • Literature
1 8.9

Feeling excited and nervous while waiting for something

can be similar but leans more to uneasy, nervous restlessness than excitement
rattled
vsjittery
  • Informal
1 7.0

Feeling nervous and confused after a sudden, unexpected event

is more continuous restlessness rather than a short shock reaction
nervy
vsjittery
1 6.5

Feeling worried and tense before a difficult event

adds visible restlessness and quick, jerky physical movement to that tension
skittery
vsjittery
1 8.7

Moving quickly and lightly because it is nervous or easily startled

covers the same quick motion but also includes tense internal anxiety
toey
vsjittery
  • Australian
1 9.9

Feeling nervous and restless before an important event

matches that anticipation but also shows quicker, jerky physical motion
flurried
vsjittery
7.4

Feeling nervous and hurried after something sudden happens

can match that state but often occurs without a sudden external cause

Antonyms

735 1.0

Not showing strong feelings and being very still

241 1.0

Calm and not worried

How Nervous

panicked
16 4.6
anxious
201 2.7
jittery
26 4.5
nervous
1.3
uneasy
98 3.2
calm
735 1.0

Surface Forms

jittery positive
jitterier comparative
jitteriest superlative

Morphology

jittery = jitter (transparent) = jitter + y

The adjective is a straightforward adjectival derivation from 'jitter' meaning 'characterized by or full of nervousness', which B1 learners can readily infer.

Etymology

Jittery comes from the short word jitter plus the ending -y; jitter sounds like quick shaking and is like tremble ('to shake'). So to be jittery is to feel nervous and move in quick, jumpy ways.