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nettlesome

American  
[net-l-suhm] / ˈnɛt l səm /

adjective

  1. causing irritation, vexation, or annoyance.

    to cope with a nettlesome situation.

  2. easily provoked or annoyed.

    to become nettlesome over trivial matters.


nettlesome British  
/ ˈnɛtəlsəm /

adjective

  1. causing or susceptible to irritation

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of nettlesome

First recorded in 1760–70; nettle + -some 1

Vocabulary lists containing nettlesome

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Which brings us back to a constant theme in this column: the nettlesome issue of middlemen.

From New York Times Jun. 29, 2023

The ban on cameras was particularly nettlesome to the TV networks, which had to resort to showing what was going on outside the court rather than what transpired within it.

From Washington Post Apr. 4, 2023

But an equally nettlesome problem is a severe lack of mental health providers, particularly in rural America.

From Seattle Times Nov. 15, 2022

JetBlue was once a “scrappy opponent” and American’s most nettlesome competitor in New York.

From Washington Times Sep. 26, 2022

They both needed her in an odd sort of way—their nettlesome guardian angel.

From "Lyddie" by Katherine Paterson

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