nettle

American  

[net-l] / ˈnɛt l /

noun

1. any plant of the genus Urtica, covered with stinging hairs.

2. any of various allied or similar plants.

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verb (used with object)

nettled, nettling

1. to irritate, annoy, or provoke.

2. to sting as a nettle does.

idioms

1. grasp the nettle, to undertake or tackle an unpleasant task.

nettle British  

/ ˈnɛtəl /

noun

1. any weedy plant of the temperate urticaceous genus Urtica, such as U. dioica ( stinging nettle ), having serrated leaves with stinging hairs and greenish flowers

2. any of various other urticaceous plants with stinging hairs or spines

3. any of various plants that resemble urticaceous nettles, such as the dead-nettle, hemp nettle, and horse nettle

4. to attempt or approach something with boldness and courage

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verb

1. to bother; irritate

2. to sting as a nettle does

Other Word Forms

• nettle-like adjective
• nettlelike adjective
• nettler noun
• nettly adjective
• unnettled adjective

Etymology

Origin of nettle

before 900; Middle English; Old English netele (noun); cognate with Dutch netel, German Nessel, Norwegian netla

Explanation

If you know what a nettle is—it's a plant with stinging hairs—then you'll have no trouble remembering the verb nettle: it means to annoy, bother, irritate, or bedevil. A kid sister, a mosquito, an angry boyfriend, or a hot, muggy day: all of these are examples of things that might nettle a person. When you nettle someone, you act like a nettle; you annoy, bother, and generally tick off a person. The person who nettles you can be called nettlesome, which means that they're acting like a nettle. I find that the very sound of his voice nettles me. The sound alone makes me wish he would just shut up.

Example Sentences

But probably at some stage he will have to grasp the nettle and talk about it.

From BBC • Mar. 28, 2026

In “Chími Nu’am: Native California Foodways for the Contemporary Kitchen,” Olson shares dishes like elk chili beans, nettle tortillas, blackberry-braised smoked salmon and nearly a dozen recipes featuring acorns.

From Salon • Oct. 14, 2024

"If Ms Reeves does not grasp the nettle on 30 October, it could come back to sting her again before the next election," Mr Johnson said.

From BBC • Oct. 9, 2024

Alana Harris, a member of the Ojibwe Tribe and cafe customer, said the cafe played a large role in helping them access Native foods such as seasonal nettle and cedar teas.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 7, 2023

I did that, Rishi thought, and the idea stung like nettle.

From "When Dimple Met Rishi" by Sandhya Menon