to nettle
2
6.8
- verb
- /ˈnɛtəl/
:
irritar
- His constant interruptions began to nettle her during the meeting.
- nettled by criticism
Examples
-
She made careful answers, taking pains not to nettle him.
Fiction book (2002) -
Yura was nettled by the fact that he had not been invited to the party, but he immediately forgot his annoyance when he heard how unjustly the powers that be had treated Orlik's father.
Fiction book (2000) -
There was no photograph, which pleased him because it would nettle his brother.
Fiction book (1998) -
"If Daddy was here, we'd go," Hugh said this not because he believed it, but to nettle her.
Fiction book (2001) -
The funds Pauly misappropriated are beginning to nettle me.
-
That nettled him, for he was a logical man, and he hated chaos, especially within himself.
Fiction book (1994) -
"Some of the apprentices were taking advantage," she answered, clearly nettled.
Fiction book (1990) -
"It is," she replied, nettled by Margaret's natural bantering attitude.
Fiction book (1999) -
She drew back, a bit nettled by his assumption that she was some kind of clumsy amateur.
Fiction book (1990) -
If Lucian had been nettled by the girl taking her authority for granted, over the next few days he grudgingly admitted to himself that he would have been lost, famished, bone sore, and parched without her.
Fiction book (1995)
Synonyms
∞
1.0
To annoy or disturb someone
246
1.0
Make someone slightly angry or bothered by small repeated actions
215
6.3
Annoy or upset someone gradually
144
3.6
Annoy someone again and again to make them react
78
2.9
Make someone feel annoyed or impatient, often by repeated small actions
63
6.9
Make someone annoyed, often by small things
26
3.3
To feel sharp emotional pain after someone says something hurtful
25
7.1
To annoy someone with small repeated actions
11
7.0
To annoy someone by small, repeated actions
10
8.0
To continue to make someone feel angry or hurt
4
7.4
To annoy someone a lot by small things another person does
3
7.7
To say something that hurts someone suddenly and sharply
1
7.6
To keep someone feeling slightly worried or annoyed
To annoy someone again and again with small problems
To make someone annoyed or angry
To annoy or puzzle someone
Antonyms
Idioms
Compounds
1
4.6
A plant with leaves that have tiny hairs which make your skin feel hot and sore when touched
- US
A rough prickly plant from North America with pale yellow flowers and small berries
A small plant with leaves like stinging nettles that does not sting when touched, often in gardens
- US
A prickly weed with pale yellow flowers and yellow berry-like fruit found in the southeastern United States
- Australian
A tall Australian tree with tiny stinging hairs on its leaves and stems
- Australian
A tall Australian tree with nettle-like leaves that can sting when touched
A plant that lives for many years and spreads by underground stems in wet or shady places
- US
A prickly plant with pale yellow flowers and poisonous yellow berries that can irritate the skin
- Specialized
Itchy skin reaction that makes raised pale spots with red edges after contact with certain plants or other allergens
A plant that grows in European woods with blue-purple bell-shaped flowers once used for sore throats
- UK
A small European plant that lives one year and has stinging leaves and green flower clusters
A plant with silvery leaves, small blue or white flowers, and a round berry used to curdle milk
A European plant from the mint family with white flowers that looks like stinging nettles but does not sting
- Specialized
A wild plant with silvery leaves and violet, blue, or white flowers that has round berries used to curdle milk
How Annoying
Surface Forms
Etymology
Nettle as a verb comes from the same plant name; to be 'nettled' is like being 'stung' by a nettle's hairs, so the word now means to feel annoyed or irritated by something sharp or rude.