nettlesome

[ net-l-suhm ]

adjective

1. causing irritation, vexation, or annoyance:

   to cope with a nettlesome situation.

2. easily provoked or annoyed:

   to become nettlesome over trivial matters.

nettlesome

/ ˈnɛtəlsəm /

adjective

1. causing or susceptible to irritation

Word History and Origins

Origin of nettlesome¹

First recorded in 1760–70; nettle + -some ¹

Example Sentences

The delays are particularly nettlesome for the Arlington, Va., aerospace giant because it’s years behind SpaceX in launching a crewed capsule to service the space station.

From Los Angeles Times

Abortion has long been a nettlesome issue for Trump, whose stated views have evolved over the decades from supporting to staunchly opposing legalized abortion.

From Los Angeles Times

But, for the prosecutors, the fractured gun parts have raised nettlesome questions about the integrity of the firearm.

From Los Angeles Times

As Allison Morrow wrote last year for CNN Business’ Nightcap newsletter, the fact that Republicans are spinning Big Mac prices as political fodder — and that social media has become an echo chamber for disgruntled customers —is becoming “ an increasingly nettlesome problem for Democratic political strategists and economists who have so far failed to deliver the message that the economy is actually doing great.”

From Salon

As these two men retrace their Jewish ancestral footsteps, visiting cemeteries, war memorials and, eventually, Majdanek concentration camp, the title’s second meaning emerges: Faced with these horrors, can either of them — even Benji with his nettlesome demons — really claim to have experienced real pain?

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• annoying
• distressing
• irksome
• nagging
• troublesome
• vexing