nettle

1 of 2

noun

net·tle ˈne-tᵊl How to pronounce nettle (audio)

: any of a genus (Urtica of the family Urticaceae, the nettle family) of chiefly coarse herbs armed with stinging hairs

… legs, which smarted from the stings of nettles …

James Stephens

: any of various prickly or stinging plants other than the true nettles (genus Urtica)

nettle

2 of 2

verb

nettled; nettling ˈnet-liŋ How to pronounce nettle (audio)

ˈne-tᵊl-iŋ

transitive verb

: to strike or sting with or as if with nettles

: to arouse to sharp but transitory annoyance or anger

Did you know?

If you've ever brushed against nettles, you know those weeds have sharp bristles that can leave you smarting and itching. The painful and irritating rash that nettles cause can last for days, but at least it is a rash with a linguistic silver lining. The discomfort caused by nettles can serve to remind one that the verb nettle is a synonym of irritate. Nettle originated as a plant name that we can trace to the Old English word netel. Eventually, people likened the nagging itch caused by the plant to the nagging aggravation of being annoyed, and nettle became a synonym of vex, peeve, and of course irritate.

Example Sentences

Verb The mayor's recent actions have nettled some members of the community. It nettles him that his younger coworker got a promotion before he did.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Robust aromas of wet earth, blueberries, nettle and sage.

Tom Mullen, Forbes, 22 May 2022 This year my diet has included chickweed, dead nettle, bittercress, dock, garlic pennycress, wild onion, brassica, wood sorrel, cleavers, dandelions, lamb’s quarters, day lily shoots, sochan, purslane and poke (amply boiled to remove toxins).

Gabriel Popkin, Washington Post, 15 Aug. 2022 As if to back his point, a male corncrake started calling from a nettle bed nearby.

New York Times, 4 Aug. 2022 Another ingredient people claim helps with their allergies is nettle leaf tea.

Sara M Moniuszko, USA TODAY, 24 June 2022 Improve the evenness of your skin tone, minimize dark spots and keep skin moisturized with nourishing ingredients like jojoba oil, nettle, red raspberry, alfalfa and spilanthes extract.

Grooming Playbook, The Salt Lake Tribune, 7 June 2022 Whether preparing nettle soup, liaising with the Police Nationale or reading boar scat, Bruno remains focused and efficient.

Washington Post, 16 Apr. 2022 So do the grains in a seasonal nettle risotto with asparagus, mushrooms, and ricotta salata.

Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 7 June 2022 Charlotte’s Web Skin Health and Allergy Support Chews are high-quality, full-spectrum hemp extracts that include biotin, nettle leaf, burdock root, and marshmallow root to support dogs with sensitive skin.

The Salt Lake Tribune, 22 May 2022

Verb

Gorky’s privileged presence began to nettle Stalin.

Algis Valiunas, National Review, 31 Mar. 2022 The pastrami dog is on the lunch menu and only nettling the dining room between 11 AM and 9 PM each day.

Mike Sula, Chicago Reader, 12 July 2018 Questions about alternative facts and relative truths have been nettling me for decades.

Errol Morris, Time, 22 May 2018 Shame nettles over Rae’s skull like a tight red cap.

Karen Russell, The New Yorker, 4 June 2017 What nettled him was the news media’s unquestioning reiteration of that claim.

Margalit Fox, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2018 Gorsuch is a pale imitation of his predecessor, boasting a bratty attitude that has nettled justices across the ideological spectrum.

Mark Joseph Stern, Slate Magazine, 18 Oct. 2017 Worries about the health of the long-term-care insurance industry have nettled investors for years.

Leslie Scism, WSJ, 23 Oct. 2017 As a presidential candidate, Mr. Sanders nettled some Jews by making a campaign appearance on Rosh Hashana, a day most Jews take off from work, at Liberty University, an evangelical college in Virginia founded by the Rev. Jerry Falwell.

Joseph Berger, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2016 See More

nettle

verb

as in to bug

to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts don't nettle your brother while he's trying to do his homework

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

bug
bother
annoy
irritate
persecute
get
eat
gall
ruffle
frost
grate
itch
rasp
anger
get to
aggravate
gripe
nark
pique
spite
wear on
chafe
vex
put out
plague
tease
badger
rile
worry
exasperate
infuriate
insult
irk
peeve
provoke
get one's goat
devil
bait
hack (off)
stick in one's craw
set one's teeth on edge
rouse
incense
upset
harry
offend
enrage
burn (up)
get on one's nerves
rub the wrong way
outrage
nag
disquiet
agitate
exercise
distress
madden
affront
hassle
heckle
rankle
discomfort
harass
inflame
discompose
unsettle
ballyrag
antagonize
bullyrag
roil
undo
enflame
pester
unhinge
fret
perturb
hagride
miff
freak (out)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

placate
conciliate
pacify
appease
gratify
propitiate
satisfy
delight
content
mollify
please
oblige
comfort
soothe
console
reassure
assure
cheer
quiet
solace
gladden

Synonym Chooser

Some common synonyms of nettle are exasperate, irritate, peeve, provoke, and rile. While all these words mean "to excite a feeling of anger or annoyance," nettle suggests a sharp but passing annoyance or stinging.

your pompous attitude nettled several people

Although the words exasperate and nettle have much in common, exasperate suggests galling annoyance and the arousing of extreme impatience.

his exasperating habit of putting off needed decisions

While the synonyms irritate and nettle are close in meaning, irritate implies an often gradual arousing of angry feelings that may range from mere impatience to rage.

constant nagging that irritated me greatly

The words peeve and nettle are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, peeve suggests arousing fretful often petty or querulous irritation.

a toddler peeved at being refused a cookie

The words provoke and nettle can be used in similar contexts, but provoke implies an arousing of strong annoyance that may excite to action.

remarks made solely to provoke her

In some situations, the words rile and nettle are roughly equivalent. However, rile implies inducing an angry or resentful agitation.

the new work schedules riled the employees

单词	nettle
释义	nettle 1 of 2 noun net·tle ˈne-tᵊl 1 : any of a genus (Urtica of the family Urticaceae, the nettle family) of chiefly coarse herbs armed with stinging hairs … legs, which smarted from the stings of nettles … James Stephens 2 : any of various prickly or stinging plants other than the true nettles (genus Urtica) Illustration of nettle nettle 1 nettle 2 of 2 verb nettled; nettling ˈnet-liŋ ˈne-tᵊl-iŋ transitive verb 1 : to strike or sting with or as if with nettles 2 : to arouse to sharp but transitory annoyance or anger Did you know? If you've ever brushed against nettles, you know those weeds have sharp bristles that can leave you smarting and itching. The painful and irritating rash that nettles cause can last for days, but at least it is a rash with a linguistic silver lining. The discomfort caused by nettles can serve to remind one that the verb nettle is a synonym of irritate. Nettle originated as a plant name that we can trace to the Old English word netel. Eventually, people likened the nagging itch caused by the plant to the nagging aggravation of being annoyed, and nettle became a synonym of vex, peeve, and of course irritate. Synonyms Verb aggravate annoy bother bug burn (up) chafe eat exasperate frost gall get grate gripe hack (off) irk irritate itch nark [British] peeve persecute pique put out rasp rile ruffle spite vex See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Verb The mayor's recent actions have nettled some members of the community. It nettles him that his younger coworker got a promotion before he did. Recent Examples on the Web Noun Robust aromas of wet earth, blueberries, nettle and sage. Tom Mullen, Forbes, 22 May 2022 This year my diet has included chickweed, dead nettle, bittercress, dock, garlic pennycress, wild onion, brassica, wood sorrel, cleavers, dandelions, lamb’s quarters, day lily shoots, sochan, purslane and poke (amply boiled to remove toxins). Gabriel Popkin, Washington Post, 15 Aug. 2022 As if to back his point, a male corncrake started calling from a nettle bed nearby. New York Times, 4 Aug. 2022 Another ingredient people claim helps with their allergies is nettle leaf tea. Sara M Moniuszko, USA TODAY, 24 June 2022 Improve the evenness of your skin tone, minimize dark spots and keep skin moisturized with nourishing ingredients like jojoba oil, nettle, red raspberry, alfalfa and spilanthes extract. Grooming Playbook, The Salt Lake Tribune, 7 June 2022 Whether preparing nettle soup, liaising with the Police Nationale or reading boar scat, Bruno remains focused and efficient. Washington Post, 16 Apr. 2022 So do the grains in a seasonal nettle risotto with asparagus, mushrooms, and ricotta salata. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 7 June 2022 Charlotte’s Web Skin Health and Allergy Support Chews are high-quality, full-spectrum hemp extracts that include biotin, nettle leaf, burdock root, and marshmallow root to support dogs with sensitive skin. The Salt Lake Tribune, 22 May 2022 Verb Gorky’s privileged presence began to nettle Stalin. Algis Valiunas, National Review, 31 Mar. 2022 The pastrami dog is on the lunch menu and only nettling the dining room between 11 AM and 9 PM each day. Mike Sula, Chicago Reader, 12 July 2018 Questions about alternative facts and relative truths have been nettling me for decades. Errol Morris, Time, 22 May 2018 Shame nettles over Rae’s skull like a tight red cap. Karen Russell, The New Yorker, 4 June 2017 What nettled him was the news media’s unquestioning reiteration of that claim. Margalit Fox, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2018 Gorsuch is a pale imitation of his predecessor, boasting a bratty attitude that has nettled justices across the ideological spectrum. Mark Joseph Stern, Slate Magazine, 18 Oct. 2017 Worries about the health of the long-term-care insurance industry have nettled investors for years. Leslie Scism, WSJ, 23 Oct. 2017 As a presidential candidate, Mr. Sanders nettled some Jews by making a campaign appearance on Rosh Hashana, a day most Jews take off from work, at Liberty University, an evangelical college in Virginia founded by the Rev. Jerry Falwell. Joseph Berger, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2016 See More Word History Etymology Noun and Verb Middle English, from Old English netel; akin to Old High German nazza nettle, Greek adikē First Known Use Noun before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Verb 15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Phrases Containing nettle grasp the nettle horse nettle hemp nettle stinging nettle sea nettle nettle rash grasp the nettle horse nettle hemp nettle stinging nettle sea nettle nettle rash Kids Definition nettle noun net·tle ˈne-tᵊl : a tall plant with hairs on the leaves that when touched can cause a painful skin rash Medical Definition nettle noun net·tle ˈnet-ᵊl 1 : any plant of the genus Urtica (family Urticaceae, the nettle family) 2 : any of various prickly or stinging plants other than one of the genus Urtica nettle verb as in to bug to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts don't nettle your brother while he's trying to do his homework Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance bug bother annoy irritate persecute get eat gall ruffle frost grate itch rasp anger get to aggravate gripe nark pique spite wear on chafe vex put out plague tease badger rile worry exasperate infuriate insult irk peeve provoke get one's goat devil bait hack (off) stick in one's craw set one's teeth on edge rouse incense upset harry offend enrage burn (up) get on one's nerves rub the wrong way outrage nag disquiet agitate exercise distress madden affront hassle heckle rankle discomfort harass inflame discompose unsettle ballyrag antagonize bullyrag roil undo enflame pester unhinge fret perturb hagride miff freak (out) Antonyms & Near Antonyms placate conciliate pacify appease gratify propitiate satisfy delight content mollify please oblige comfort soothe console reassure assure cheer quiet solace gladden See More Synonym Chooser Some common synonyms of nettle are exasperate, irritate, peeve, provoke, and rile. While all these words mean "to excite a feeling of anger or annoyance," nettle suggests a sharp but passing annoyance or stinging. your pompous attitude nettled several people Although the words exasperate and nettle have much in common, exasperate suggests galling annoyance and the arousing of extreme impatience. his exasperating habit of putting off needed decisions While the synonyms irritate and nettle are close in meaning, irritate implies an often gradual arousing of angry feelings that may range from mere impatience to rage. constant nagging that irritated me greatly The words peeve and nettle are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, peeve suggests arousing fretful often petty or querulous irritation. a toddler peeved at being refused a cookie The words provoke and nettle can be used in similar contexts, but provoke implies an arousing of strong annoyance that may excite to action. remarks made solely to provoke her In some situations, the words rile and nettle are roughly equivalent. However, rile implies inducing an angry or resentful agitation. the new work schedules riled the employees
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nettle

noun

Illustration of nettle

verb

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing nettle

Kids Definition

noun

Medical Definition

noun

verb

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