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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Don’t let those small scratches bug you—just use a little Bar Keeper’s Friend to buff them out.—
Quincy Bulin,
Southern Living,
10 Feb. 2026
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Instead, Ladinig says Pierre Haobsh bugged Henry Han's computer with a spyware app called a keylogger.—
Natalie Morales,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Andrew Musgrave crossed the finish line in cross-country skiing today in a tank top, and the cold didn’t seem to bother him one bit.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
13 Feb. 2026
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My damp clothes didn’t bother either one of us.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Rosebush Pruning, by contrast, feels designed to annoy us and push us away.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
15 Feb. 2026
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In this short 4-minute video from CoComelon, baby JJ does a number of things that may hurt or annoy someone near him, including sitting on his sister’s painting and slurping loudly on his juice.—
Marilyn La Jeunesse,
Parents,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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It’s made of organic cotton grown and harvested without harmful pesticides that can irritate those of us with sensitive skin.—
Katie Jackson,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Feb. 2026
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Perimenopausal women also become more sensitive to certain skin products, which can further irritate or inflame their dry skin.—
Jocelyn Solis-Moreira,
Flow Space,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Branding peaceful protesters as ‘terrorists,’ and Christians that are persecuted every year as ‘Zionist mercenaries,’ is nothing but scapegoating.—
Benjamin Weinthal,
FOXNews.com,
13 Feb. 2026
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The Secret Agent’s primary setting is a house full of misfits and refugees in the northeastern city of Recife, a safe harbor from those persecuted by the country’s military regime, ruled over by the inimitable Dona Sebastiana (Tânia Maria, whose role was written specifically for her).—
Nate Jones,
Vulture,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Hunters and birdwatchers are advised to wear gloves when handling birds or feeders, to wash hands thoroughly after any contact, and to not eating birds that appear sick or birds that are found dead.—
Bryan Hendricks,
Arkansas Online,
15 Feb. 2026
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Without Callie around, the chasm between Minnie — who holds an after-school job and eats microwaved junk at home — and Callie’s other friends feels wider than ever.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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And the other function of music media is learning more, getting deeper into fandom, learning more about the lives of a lot of musicians, many of whom don’t necessarily need a magazine or music media to put their image out there for them.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
14 Feb. 2026
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This latest iteration, which builds on the 2024 version by adding a voter ID provision, must get 60 votes to pass.—
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy,
USA Today,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Readers will remember Carano from being fired from The Mandalorian after her outspoken conservative views ruffled feathers on social media.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
17 Feb. 2026
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The first features a pink rose, ruffled pink carnations, and yellow and white mums.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nettle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nettle. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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