NETTLE Synonyms: 100 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'nettle' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of nettle are exasperate , irritate , peeve , provoke , and rile . While all these words mean "to excite a feeling of anger or annoyance," nettle suggests a sharp but passing annoyance or stinging. // your pompous attitude nettled several people

Q: When would 'exasperate' be a good substitute for 'nettle'?

Although the words exasperate and nettle have much in common, exasperate suggests galling annoyance and the arousing of extreme impatience. // his exasperating habit of putting off needed decisions

Q: When might 'irritate' be a better fit than 'nettle'?

While the synonyms irritate and nettle are close in meaning, irritate implies an often gradual arousing of angry feelings that may range from mere impatience to rage. // constant nagging that irritated me greatly

Q: In what contexts can 'peeve' take the place of 'nettle'?

The words peeve and nettle are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, peeve suggests arousing fretful often petty or querulous irritation. // a toddler peeved at being refused a cookie

Q: When is 'provoke' a more appropriate choice than 'nettle'?

The words provoke and nettle can be used in similar contexts, but provoke implies an arousing of strong annoyance that may excite to action. // remarks made solely to provoke her

Q: When could 'rile' be used to replace 'nettle'?

In some situations, the words rile and nettle are roughly equivalent. However, rile implies inducing an angry or resentful agitation. // the new work schedules riled the employees

nettle

verb

Definition of nettle

as in to bug

to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts don't nettle your brother while he's trying to do his homework

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How is the word nettle different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of nettle are exasperate, irritate, peeve, provoke, and rile. While all these words mean "to excite a feeling of anger or annoyance," nettle suggests a sharp but passing annoyance or stinging.

your pompous attitude nettled several people

When would exasperate be a good substitute for nettle?

Although the words exasperate and nettle have much in common, exasperate suggests galling annoyance and the arousing of extreme impatience.

his exasperating habit of putting off needed decisions

When might irritate be a better fit than nettle?

While the synonyms irritate and nettle are close in meaning, irritate implies an often gradual arousing of angry feelings that may range from mere impatience to rage.

constant nagging that irritated me greatly

In what contexts can peeve take the place of nettle?

The words peeve and nettle are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, peeve suggests arousing fretful often petty or querulous irritation.

a toddler peeved at being refused a cookie

When is provoke a more appropriate choice than nettle?

The words provoke and nettle can be used in similar contexts, but provoke implies an arousing of strong annoyance that may excite to action.

remarks made solely to provoke her

When could rile be used to replace nettle?

In some situations, the words rile and nettle are roughly equivalent. However, rile implies inducing an angry or resentful agitation.

the new work schedules riled the employees

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of nettle Above all else, this genre nettles the record labels, who view it as an encroachment on their property. — WIRED, 6 Nov. 2023 The narrators of these stories are crotchety, easily nettled by the behaviors of other passengers. — Jasmine Liu, The New Republic, 24 Oct. 2023 This year, Schaefer, who is chairman of the Texas Freedom Caucus, which has nettled GOP speakers in the past, is author of HB 20. — Dallas News, 13 Mar. 2023 In the years that followed, Bobby Sproul, who died in 2002 at 86, would continue to have the kind of success that apparently had nettled Link Williams. — oregonlive, 15 Feb. 2023 See All Example Sentences for nettle

Recent Examples of Synonyms for nettle

Verb

And as the team moved into the couple’s guest house on their San Diego rental property, the filmmakers feared that the home was bugged and ordered a device to try to de-bug it, without success.

— Kirsten Chuba, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2026
As a Bears fan, McDermott doesn’t want to disrupt the team and bug McCaskey or Warren too much.

— Ryan Canfield OutKick, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of bug

Verb

What annoys me is that this whole thing is called Roaring 20th, so why was there not a flapper and Great Gatsby theme?

— Brian Moylan, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
Coach Rhett Lashlee was already annoyed with special teams coming into the game, and that was before the Mustangs botched two PAT attempts.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of annoy

Verb

Those governments provide assurances that people won’t be persecuted or tortured, federal attorneys said.

— Lindsay Whitehurst, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026
Also, some immigration cases involve people seeking asylum because they are being persecuted by a foreign government and releasing a person’s full name could be considered sensitive or even dangerous.

— Laura Tillman, Hartford Courant, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of persecute

Verb

Even though the vast majority of prescriptions are written for generic drugs, drug spending is surging faster than any other category — and drugs have been eating more of the employer’s premium for multiple years now.

— Bob Herman, STAT, 5 Oct. 2026
That can include wild animals that seem unusually tame, nocturnal animals that are out in the day, and pets that have trouble walking, eating or a significant change in personality.

— Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of eat

Verb

As the day winds down, get cozy in the living room for a game of cards and a glass of South African wine, or watch the sun set from the stone terrace.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026
Each of the six main suspects get their chance to give their version of events on the day of Jodie’s death, effectively supplying their own alibis.

— Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of get

Verb

Or maybe Pitt simply wanted to get his Jack London on, traipsing throughout gorgeous natural terrain and ruffling his co-star’s fur in between fending off feral wolves and navigating impromptu whitewater rafting trips sans the raft.

— David Fear, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2026
Sydney Sweeney ruffled the feathers of some professional athletes when her ad for the sports trading app Novig dropped last week.

— Ryan Gaydos OutKick, FOXNews.com, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of ruffle

Browse Nearby Words

nettings

nettle

nettled

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“Nettle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nettle. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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