nettle

Synonym Chooser

How is the word nettle different from other verbs like it?

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

When would exasperate be a good substitute for nettle?

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

When might irritate be a better fit than nettle?

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

In what contexts can peeve take the place of nettle?

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

When is provoke a more appropriate choice than nettle?

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

When could rile be used to replace nettle?

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

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of nettle In the years that followed, Bobby Sproul, who died in 2002 at 86, would continue to have the kind of success that apparently had nettled Link Williams. oregonlive, 15 Feb. 2023 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 See All Example Sentences for nettle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nettle
Verb
  • Ema then asks the question that’s been bugging her—why hasn’t Leo’s body been found?
    Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Ferrell bugs his eyes out and sighs a series of increasingly desperate spit-takes, but this project was probably doomed from the get-go.
    Tim Grierson, Vulture, 4 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Because Congress never bothered to write a law to establish it.
    Jay Cost, The Washington Examiner, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Chicago Bears - Will Campbell, OL, LSU Will Campbell has fallen a bit due to his shorter arm length, but that likely won't bother Ben Johnson.
    Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Waltz now has a bunch of top officials, and their teams, who are annoyed at him for drawing bad publicity.
    Marc Caputo, Axios, 25 Mar. 2025
  • However, standing in the middle of a road to capture the Eiffel Tower in the background is not only unsafe but can also annoy locals.
    Rebecca Ann Hughes, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • First, coffee is significantly more acidic than matcha, which can irritate some people's stomachs or cause heartburn.
    Sohaib Imtiaz, Verywell Health, 26 Mar. 2025
  • She’s disillusioned with her boyfriend and irritated by her mother.
    Manuel Betancourt, Variety, 25 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The Roman authorities persecuted Christians harshly, subjecting them to torture and deaths even more gruesome than crucifixion.
    Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2025
  • The former president has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and says he's being politically persecuted.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 27 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Miami was last in the NFL at 57 plays per game last season partly because the offense didn’t convert effectively on third downs, but also because the porous run defense allowed opponents to eat up the clock.
    Chris Perkins, Sun-Sentinel.com, 19 July 2017
  • The casual restaurant and bar also offers an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet at 8 a.m. Sundays.
    Vickie Snow Jurkowski, Daily Southtown, 19 July 2017
Verb
  • There are many people who are not getting social service programs, especially people with disabilities.
    Allison Pecorin, ABC News, 3 Apr. 2025
  • Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free newsletter to get the latest trailers, celebrity interviews, film reviews, and more.
    Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 3 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Friction point: Wyoming's process ruffled some feathers.
    Brady Dale, Axios, 27 Mar. 2025
  • Laura Gómez: If Evangelina’s prophylaxis fair had already ruffled some feathers, now people were truly shocked.
    Laura Gómez, Scientific American, 26 Mar. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Nettle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nettle. Accessed 8 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on nettle

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!