nettlesome
Causing ongoing vexation
Nettlesome describes something that causes irritation or annoyance, like the stinging hairs of a nettle plant.
A nettlesome problem is persistently vexing rather than easily resolved.
The word often applies to situations, issues, or people that provoke ongoing frustration: The nettlesome dispute between neighbors dragged on for years.
It carries a slightly more formal or literary tone than simply calling something annoying.
Causing mild irritation
- bothersomeCausing mild annoyance
- irksomeCausing mild frustration
- aggravatingCausing irritation or worsening
- vexingCausing mild torment
exasperating · galling · grating · maddening · infuriating · pestering · nagging · rankling
Causing difficulty or concern
- difficultRequiring much effort
- burdensomeDifficult to endure
- demandingRequiring great effort
- challengingHard to accomplish
complicated · cumbersome · taxing · onerous · arduous · laborious · thorny · knotty
Causing public dispute
- contentiousInclined toward disagreement
- inflammatoryTending to provoke outrage
- incendiaryCausing or designed for burning
- divisiveCausing sharp disagreement
polemical · disputatious · quarrelsome · fractious · prickly · touchy · sensitive · delicate
Causing mental unease
- disconcertingCausing unease or confusion
- disquietingCausing unease or worry
- discomfitingCausing embarrassment or unease
- perturbingCausing mental disturbance
discomposing · unsettling · troubling · worrying · distressing · alarming · upsetting · unnerving
annoying
Causing mild irritation
- bothersomeCausing mild annoyance
- irksomeCausing mild frustration
- aggravatingCausing irritation or worsening
vexing · exasperating · galling · grating · maddening · infuriating · pestering · nagging · rankling · chafing
problematic
Causing difficulty or concern
- difficultRequiring much effort
- burdensomeDifficult to endure
- demandingRequiring great effort
challenging · complicated · cumbersome · taxing · onerous · arduous · laborious · thorny · knotty · tricky
controversial
Causing public dispute
- contentiousInclined toward disagreement
- inflammatoryTending to provoke outrage
- incendiaryCausing or designed for burning
divisive · polemical · disputatious · quarrelsome · fractious · prickly · touchy · sensitive · delicate · charged
disturbing
Causing mental unease
- disconcertingCausing unease or confusion
- disquietingCausing unease or worry
- discomfitingCausing embarrassment or unease
perturbing · discomposing · unsettling · troubling · worrying · distressing · alarming · upsetting · unnerving · agitating
- irritatingannoying, aggravating, bothersome, exasperating, frustrating
nettlesomesoothing
Reducing distress or discomfort
pleasing · agreeable · delightful · pleasant · calming
nettlesomeeasy
Requiring minimal effort
simple · straightforward · uncomplicated · manageable · effortless