nagging

adjective

nag·​ging ˈna-giŋ 

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

b

: causing continual or recurring pain or discomfort

He'd had a nagging headache all day.

a nagging injury

naggingly

ˈna-giŋ-lē 

adverb

There has always been something naggingly sad about Bonds' career …

—Tim Keown

… something about the book feels naggingly familiar, as if you know how it will end before you start …

—Debra Pickett

Synonyms

• discomforting
• discomposing
• disquieting
• distressing
• disturbing
• nasty
• perturbing
• troublesome
• troubling
• troublous
• unsettling
• upsetting
• worrisome

Examples of nagging in a Sentence

I have this nagging feeling that something will still go wrong

Recent Examples on the Web

With that reveal, the nagging artificiality of the blueberries scent in the theater clicked into place. —James Grebey, Vulture, 1 Nov. 2024

Higgins has been dealing with a nagging quad injury and is in danger of missing his second straight game. —Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024

The flosser’s sonic technology powerfully eliminates plaque and debris, ensuring a brighter smile and fewer nagging reminders from your dentist. —Hyphensocial Contributors, Rolling Stone, 5 Oct. 2024

There was also the nagging question about the sink being dry. —Natalie Morales, CBS News, 26 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1829, in the meaning defined at sense 1