Nervous
Published by Naitik Mehta · April 1, 2026
Stuck on the clue Nervous from the New York Times Daily for April 1, 2026? We have the correct 5-letter answer, including the definition, alternative hints, as well as other answers from the same crossword. Ready to learn more about this clue?
Clue
Nervous (5)
Answer
The answer to Nervous is Tense (5 letters).
Why does Tense fit this clue?
This is a direct definition clue where 'Nervous' maps cleanly to the adjective TENSE. When someone is tense, they feel anxious, wound up, or on edge, which is a close synonym for nervous. The word TENSE does double duty in English: as an adjective it describes a state of mental or physical strain, and as a noun it refers to the grammatical category that places a verb in time, like past or present tense. Crossword constructors love TENSE precisely because of this double meaning, but here the clue targets the emotional sense, where feeling tense and feeling nervous describe the same jittery, uneasy state.
What does Nervous mean?
We break down each word in the clue and show its dictionary definition below.
nervous
adjective
•easily agitated or alarmed; anxious or worried
Where did this clue appear?
This clue appeared as 50-down in the New York Times Daily on April 1, 2026, by Jess Shulman and Amie Walker, edited by Will Shortz. See all answers for this puzzle.
Read the NYT Wordplay column for this puzzle.
NYT Daily — Apr 1, 2026
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What does Tense mean?
noun
•(grammar) Any of the forms of a verb which distinguish when an action or state of being occurs or exists.
•(grammar) An inflected form of a verb that indicates tense.
verb
•(grammar) To apply a tense to.
•To make or become tense.
adjective
•Showing signs of stress or strain; not relaxed.
•Pulled taut, without any slack.
Origin of the word Tense
•origin: Latin 'tempus' meaning time
•period: 14th century
The word entered English through Old French 'tens' and originally referred only to grammatical time distinctions before developing its modern meaning of physical or mental strain in the 17th century.
How to use Tense in a sentence
Here are 3 examples of how to use the word Tense.
•“She felt tense before her job interview, constantly fidgeting with her hands.”
•“The atmosphere in the room became tense when they started discussing the controversial topic.”
•“His shoulders were tense from sitting at the computer all day.”
What are other crossword clues for Tense?
Learn about related clues
All clues from the New York Times Daily, Apr 1, 2026 crossword
The New York Times Daily for April 1, 2026 was published by Jess Shulman and Amie Walker and has 76 clues. Curious about all the answers from this crossword puzzle? View all answers here.
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Frequently asked questions about Nervous
- What is the answer to Nervous?
- The answer is Tense (5 letters).
- Where did this clue appear?
- This clue was last seen in the New York Times Daily on April 1, 2026.
- How many letters does the answer to Nervous have?
- The answer has 5 letters: Tense.
Author
Naitik Mehta
Co-founder
Naitik is a gaming enthusiast who loves solving daily word games and enjoys the friendly competition from time to time. He is the co-founder of Crossword Chef and enjoys thinking about how to make crossword solving more fun for everyone around the world.
Puzzle
NYT Daily — Apr 1, 2026
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