WordGarden.ionerveless
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /nˈɜːvləs/
US
- /nˈɜːvləs/
Meanings
Adjective
calm and steady under pressure
physically weak, limp, or lacking feeling or power
lacking courage, firmness, or spirit
More meaningsFewer meanings
in anatomy or botany, having no nerves
Beyond the definition
Imagine an arm hanging with no strength in it, or a speech delivered with no life behind it. That is one side of "nerveless." It can describe a person, body part, action, or piece of writing that seems weak, limp, or without force. But the word also has another side. It can describe someone who stays cool under pressure. A "nerveless" surgeon, athlete, or pilot does not panic; they stay steady when others might lose control. So the word can point either to a lack of strength or to an unusual calm in a tense moment.
"Nerveless" is a word with two clear sides. In one sense, it describes a lack of strength, energy, or force. In the other, it describes an unusual calmness in a situation that would make most people anxious. The context tells you which meaning is intended.
In its weaker sense, "nerveless" often suggests something limp, feeble, or lacking drive. A hand may hang nerveless at someone's side, or a tired body may seem nerveless after strain. The word can also be used more broadly for things that feel flat or without spirit, such as a speech, a performance, or a piece of writing that has no force behind it. In these cases, the idea is not simply silence or stillness, but a noticeable absence of power.
On the other hand, "nerveless" can praise someone for staying calm in danger or stress. A nerveless climber on a sheer cliff, a nerveless goalkeeper in a penalty shootout, or a nerveless leader in a crisis shows no visible fear. Here the word suggests poise, self-control, and steadiness rather than weakness. The person is not without feeling; they simply do not let fear shake them.
Because these two meanings pull in different directions, "nerveless" can sound either negative or admiring. If it refers to a body, a gesture, or a piece of language, it usually means weak or lifeless. If it refers to a person facing pressure, it usually means cool and unafraid. In both uses, the word suggests an absence of the usual nervous response, whether that absence looks like weakness or like remarkable control.
Examples
- 1
Interview
She gave a nerveless answer in the interview, even when the questions became difficult.
- 2
Sports pressure
The young striker scored with a nerveless penalty in the final minute.
- 3
Live television
His nerveless performance on live television surprised everyone.
- 4
Physical numbness
After the shock, he sat there with nerveless fingers around the cup.
- Usagenerveless fingers
weak, still, or without feeling; this use is more literary
See also
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- nervelessadjective