as in to bug
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts
don't nettle your brother while he's trying to do his homework
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of nettle
The narrators of these stories are crotchety, easily nettled by the behaviors of other passengers.
—
Jasmine Liu, The New Republic, 24 Oct. 2023
This year, Schaefer, who is chairman of the Texas Freedom Caucus, which has nettled GOP speakers in the past, is author of HB 20.
—Dallas News, 13 Mar. 2023
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
See All Example Sentences for nettle
Jasmine Liu, The New Republic, 24 Oct. 2023
This year, Schaefer, who is chairman of the Texas Freedom Caucus, which has nettled GOP speakers in the past, is author of HB 20.
—Dallas News, 13 Mar. 2023
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
See All Example Sentences for nettle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nettle
Verb
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Say your mother kept bugging you to change a bad habit.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
11 May 2025
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Next season is when all the little things start to bug me.—
Ryan Schwartz,
TVLine,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
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There’s something delicious about sipping lemonade after a dip in the pool, looking down from the balcony at the day-trippers all hot and bothered below.—
Richard Godwin,
Travel + Leisure,
12 July 2025
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That really bothers me more than anything else; that bothers me more than even being excluded.—
Max Gao,
Variety,
11 July 2025
Verb
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Perhaps Trump just wanted to annoy his counterparts, especially those on the continent.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
14 July 2025
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But Cotton, annoyed by Hank’s indirectness and emotion, browbeats his son.—
Daniel Dockery,
Vulture,
7 July 2025
Verb
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According to Valliere, people and pets should avoid coming in contact with several invasive plants in California, including: Certain grasses, which produce long awns and seeds that can irritate skin, get stuck in pets’ fur, and cause discomfort for both animals and humans.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
14 July 2025
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Things escalated further as fans began requesting photos and videos, reportedly irritating the R&B star.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
14 July 2025
Verb
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There may be no animal that has been more revered and reviled, romanticized and persecuted, adopted and murdered than the coyote.—
Helen Whybrow
July 7,
Literary Hub,
7 July 2025
-
Asylum seekers must prove their government is persecuting them or that they're being persecuted by someone who the government is unable or unwilling to stop.—
Victoria Moorwood,
The Enquirer,
2 July 2025
Verb
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This spot for soccer fans offers lots of pub fare to eat and drink.—
Liz Rothaus Bertrand,
Charlotte Observer,
24 Mar. 2025
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The calls came while eating lunch, while lying in bed at night.—
Max Klaver,
Miami Herald,
24 Mar. 2025
Verb
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So much for my hope that Jess would get a promotion!—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
8 July 2025
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Maybe there's a path for Turner to get there eventually.—
Drew VonScio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 July 2025
Verb
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Despite the bird occasionally flapping its wings and ruffling its feathers, Cardi kept her composure and smiled with every flash of the camera.—
Starr Bowenbank,
People.com,
7 July 2025
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Many guests followed this M.O., while some decided to ruffle some feathers with outfits that were the epitome of fantasy.—
Robyn Mowatt,
Essence,
7 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nettle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nettle. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
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