Dictionary nettleIrritate

verb

nettle

NET-ul/nˈɛtʌl/

To irritate, annoy, or provoke someone.

The woman's repeated pen-clicking nettles her companion.

At a small shared table, a woman repeatedly clicks a retractable pen near her companion, who turns toward her with a tense, irritated expression and a raised stop gesture.

Etymology

neteleOld Englishstinging nettle

Beating someone with stinging nettles softened into provoking or annoying them.

More examples

His smug answer nettles her.
The repeated interruption begins to nettle everyone.

Forms

nettle · nettles

Similar words

irritate: A general term for causing annoyance.
provoke: Can cause a stronger reaction or incite action.