nettlesome

adjective

net·​tle·​some ˈne-tᵊl-səm How to pronounce nettlesome (audio)
: causing vexation : irritating

Examples of nettlesome in a Sentence

a few nettlesome details that still required attention
Recent Examples on the Web Apple has reversed course under regulatory pressure and cleared the way for a nettlesome adversary, video game maker Epic Games, to set up an alternative store for iPhone apps in Europe. Michael Liedtke, Quartz, 8 Mar. 2024 But, for the prosecutors, the fractured gun parts have raised nettlesome questions about the integrity of the firearm. Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 26 Feb. 2024 The current impeachment drives in the House have been nettlesome to the Biden team and certainly to Mr. Mayorkas, who issued a defiant seven-page letter before the House Homeland Security Committee voted for articles of impeachment against him along party lines this week. Peter Baker, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2024 But this hasn't stopped printer makers from fighting to keep the nettlesome practice. Scharon Harding, Ars Technica, 15 Aug. 2023 The same can’t be said of several recent top editors of the New York Times, hobbled variously by nettlesome personalities, bad timing and worse luck. Julia M. Klein, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2023 James Buckley would become an increasingly nettlesome figure to New York state’s moderate Republican establishment leaders, running unsuccessfully for the Senate as a third-party conservative against Sen. Jacob K. Javits (R) in 1968 before winning election to the Senate two years later. Tom Hamburger, Washington Post, 18 Aug. 2023 James Buckley would become an increasingly nettlesome figure to New York state’s moderate Republican establishment leaders, running unsuccessfully for the Senate as a third-party conservative against Republican Senator Jacob K. Javits in 1968 before winning election to the Senate two years later. Tom Hamburger, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Aug. 2023 Old and new riders For years, D.C. has been trying to remove what officials see as a pair of nettlesome and harmful riders from the federal budget. Meagan Flynn, Washington Post, 13 July 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'nettlesome.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1845, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nettlesome was in 1845

Dictionary Entries Near nettlesome

Cite this Entry

“Nettlesome.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nettlesome. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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