1
: persistently annoying or finding fault with someone
a nagging husband/wife
2
a
: causing continual or recurring worry or anxiety
a nagging fear
This time, the worry is that the housing slowdown will curtail growth before the Federal Reserve gets nagging inflation concerns resolved.—
Scott Patterson
Scott Patterson
b
: causing continual or recurring pain or discomfort
He'd had a nagging headache all day.
a nagging injury
naggingly
adverb
There has always been something naggingly sad about Bonds' career …
—Tim Keown
Tim Keown
… something about the book feels naggingly familiar, as if you know how it will end before you start …
—Debra Pickett
Debra Pickett
Synonyms
Examples of nagging in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Her motivations for backing out of the deal are never clear and her quiet exit represents the beginning of Humane’s nagging plot holes.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Apr. 2024
Penry transferred to Boise State last year, but nagging injuries kept him off the field until late last season.
—Ron Counts, Idaho Statesman, 21 Apr. 2024
Some are good; others may leave a nagging sense of regret.
—Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2024
Shelved since December with a nagging lower back injury involving a bone issue, Williams logged action in only 19 games this season.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 16 Apr. 2024
The dysfunction has left area residents with a nagging fear: what happens when a big fire comes?
—Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2024
And then there’s the nagging fear that maybe that Oscar, win or nomination, was just a fluke.
—Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 8 Mar. 2024
Picture the victory of climbing into bed free of that nagging soreness once and for all.
—Hilary Tetenbaum, Detroit Free Press, 8 Apr. 2024
After breezing through the hard part of his journey back from offseason hip surgery, the 36-year-old right-hander felt some nagging discomfort in his elbow following a recent bullpen session.
—Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2024
Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Apr. 2024
Penry transferred to Boise State last year, but nagging injuries kept him off the field until late last season.
—Ron Counts, Idaho Statesman, 21 Apr. 2024
Some are good; others may leave a nagging sense of regret.
—Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2024
Shelved since December with a nagging lower back injury involving a bone issue, Williams logged action in only 19 games this season.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 16 Apr. 2024
The dysfunction has left area residents with a nagging fear: what happens when a big fire comes?
—Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2024
And then there’s the nagging fear that maybe that Oscar, win or nomination, was just a fluke.
—Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 8 Mar. 2024
Picture the victory of climbing into bed free of that nagging soreness once and for all.
—Hilary Tetenbaum, Detroit Free Press, 8 Apr. 2024
After breezing through the hard part of his journey back from offseason hip surgery, the 36-year-old right-hander felt some nagging discomfort in his elbow following a recent bullpen session.
—Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'nagging.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Nagging.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nagging. Accessed 2 May. 2024.
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