to nettle
Third Person
nettles
Present Participle
nettling
Past Tense
nettled
Past Participle
nettled
1
to annoy or disturb someone, particularly through minor irritations
transitive
- His persistent interruptions nettled the teacher during the lesson.
- His habit of tapping his foot repeatedly nettled her during the meeting.
- The constant ringing of his phone nettled her during the movie.
- The repetitive clicking of the keyboard nettled her while she was trying to concentrate.
- Her habit of humming under her breath nettled her roommate.
2
to strike or sting someone with a plant with stinging hairs
transitive
- He accidentally nettled his arm while walking through the thick bushes.
- She nettled him with a few quick swipes of the plant when he wouldn’t leave.
- He nettled the thief on his way out of the garden, making him yelp in pain.
- She tried to nettle him for his rude behavior, but he just laughed it off.
- The weeds were so thick that they nettled my legs as I tried to pass.
Synonyms: