nettlesome

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈnɛtl̩səm/ UK /ˈnɛtl̩səm/ See IPA manual

adj

Meanings

1

adj
causing irritation or difficulty; vexing

The committee dodged the nettlesome question of funding.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · causing irritation or... irritatingvexingannoying troublesomeaggravatingbothersome irksome

Opposites

soothing pleasing calming

Word family

Related forms nettlenettlednettly

Etymology

From nettle + -some, from the stinging nettle plant (Old English netele), the verb sense 'to irritate' arising from its sting.

netele Old English -sum Old English

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities

# nettlesome

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** ˈnɛtl̩səm
**IPA (UK):** ˈnɛtl̩səm

## Meanings
1. causing irritation or difficulty; vexing

## Examples
- The committee dodged the nettlesome question of funding.

## Synonyms
- irritating
- vexing
- annoying
- troublesome
- aggravating
- bothersome
- irksome

## Antonyms
- soothing
- pleasing
- calming

## Related Forms
- nettle
- nettled
- nettly

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: netele
- Root: -sum

## Etymology
From nettle + -some, from the stinging nettle plant (Old English netele), the verb sense 'to irritate' arising from its sting.

## AI Etymology
Nettlesome comes from nettle + -some, from the stinging nettle plant (Old English netele), the verb sense 'to irritate' arising from its sting. The etymological trail includes Old English netele, Old English -sum. The same word family includes nettle, nettled, nettly. Its current adjective use means "causing irritation or difficulty; vexing".

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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nettlesome

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