a herbaceous plant that has jagged leaves covered with stinging hairs, a wild plant with heart-shaped leaves and small, yellowish-green flowers

grasp the nettle, to be in a nettle, to nettle someone

Formal and Informal Expressions of nettle

In different contexts, you can replace 'nettle' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'urtica dioica' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'weed' is a commonplace synonym.

nettle: Explore its Definition & Usage

nettle Definition

1a herbaceous plant that has jagged leaves covered with stinging hairs
2a wild plant with heart-shaped leaves and small, yellowish-green flowers

Using nettle: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "nettle" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
The nettle stung my hand.
Example
Nettles grow in the wild.
Example
I'm going to make nettle soup for dinner.

nettle Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for nettle

weed
stinging nettle
urtica dioica

Phrases with nettle

grasp the nettle
to confront a difficult or unpleasant situation with determination and courage
Example
I know it's a tough decision, but you need to grasp the nettle and choose one way or the other.
to be in a nettle
to be in an uncomfortable or difficult situation
Example
He was in a nettle when he realized he had lost his wallet.
to nettle someone
to irritate or annoy someone
Example
It really nettles me when people don't listen to what I'm saying.

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Summary: nettle in Brief

A 'nettle' [ˈnɛtl] is a wild plant with heart-shaped leaves and small, yellowish-green flowers. It is known for its jagged leaves covered with stinging hairs, which can cause irritation when touched. The phrase 'grasp the nettle' means to confront a difficult situation with determination and courage, while 'to be in a nettle' means to be in an uncomfortable or difficult situation.