literally, full of nettles (plants with stinging hairs); irritating; causing annoyance or vexation literally, full of nettles; irritating; causing annoyance or vexation irritating irritating; causing annoyance or vexation literally, full of NETTLES (plants with stinging hairs) causing irritation or annoyance. syn-- disagreeable pestering plaguey plaguy galling teasing vexing pesky bothersome vexatious annoying pestiferous irritating. easily irritated or annoyed. Synonyms: peckish testy tetchy petulant cranky techy ill-natured fractious irritable scratchy pettish peevish Definition of Nettlesome irritating; annoying Examples of Nettlesome in a sentence Asking another nettlesome question, the child irritated her mother to no end. The issue of rats in the attic has proven a nettlesome problem for the realtor trying to sell the house. Nettlesome junk mail filled the inbox of the mayor, stopping him from getting to important messages. The attorney tries to avoid filling nettlesome lawsuits and will only deal with solid cases. Solving the annoying requests quickly, the building manager figures it\\'s easier to deal with the nettlesome issues early in the morning.