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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.

Perhaps, some analysts suggested, it marked the demise of a nettlesome character whose usefulness — as a deniable military asset, international fixer and pro-Kremlin master of the media dark arts — had run its course.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 24, 2023

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

From New York Times • Jun. 29, 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

The flagon of mulled wine that Satin delivered helped them settle the more nettlesome points.

From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin