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

• disturbing
• unsettling
• troubling
• troublesome
• nasty

Examples of nagging in a Sentence

I have this nagging feeling that something will still go wrong

Recent Examples on the Web

The extraordinary move left me with a nagging sense of déjà vu. —Gisela Salim-Peyer, The Atlantic, 12 Sep. 2025

Pricey prescriptions and nagging medical costs are swamping some insurers and employers now. —Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 10 Sep. 2025

Add another key defensive starter to the Broncos’ list of nagging ailments. —Luca Evans, Denver Post, 10 Sep. 2025

The nagging feeling that your work isn't original. —Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1829, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for nagging

• bagging
• bragging
• dragging
• flagging
• gagging
• lagging
• sagging
• slagging
• snagging
• tagging
• wagging
• unflagging