# war of nerves

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/war-of-nerves
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Warfare characterized by psychological manipulation, involving tactics intended to demoralize, frighten, and unnerve opponents in order to prompt surrender.

## Examples

- The long standoff between the two companies is a war of nerves.
- The trade negotiations turned into a war of nerves as both sides refused to make the first move.
- The diplomatic crisis escalated into a grueling war of nerves, testing the resolve of every leader involved in the tense, high-stakes summit.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.