nettlesome C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities US /ˈnɛtl̩səm/ UK /ˈnɛtl̩səm/ See IPA manual Meanings 1 adj causing irritation or difficulty; vexing The committee dodged the nettlesome question of funding. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 adj · causing irritation or... irritatingvexingannoyingtroublesomeaggravatingbothersomeirksome ↔ Opposites soothingpleasingcalming Word family Related forms nettlenettlednettly Etymology AI details 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 External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # 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 markdown