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 of nagging

• 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

Wharton dealt with a nagging hamstring injury, which limited him to nine appearances in the regular season. —Mike Kaye updated January 26, Charlotte Observer, 26 Jan. 2026

But that’s if the 35-year-old Semien (who missed the last six weeks of last season with a fractured foot) and especially Robert, who has a history of nagging injuries and only once played more than 110 games in six years with the White Sox, stay healthy. —Bill Madden, New York Daily News, 24 Jan. 2026

Doncic also returned with a strong performance after missing Saturday's loss at Portland to rest his nagging injuries, hitting five 3-pointers. —CBS News, 18 Jan. 2026

At least wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, who missed last week’s game with a nagging PCL strain, is trending toward returning against the Seahawks. —Evan Webeck, Mercury News, 16 Jan. 2026

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