niggled; niggling
ˈni-g(ə-)liŋ 
1
a
: trifle
b
: to spend too much effort on minor details
2
: to find fault constantly in a petty way : carp
she haggles, she niggles, she wears out our patience—
Virginia Woolf
Virginia Woolf3
: gnaw
: to give stingily or in tiny portions
chiefly British
: a trifling doubt, objection, or complaint
Examples of niggle in a Sentence
Verb
She had been niggled by worry her entire life.
He's always niggling over small details.
Noun
I've had a knee niggle for the past few days.
He has a bit of a niggle in his back.
I have a few minor niggles about the performance.
Recent Examples on the Web
Rachel Linden, PEOPLE, 4 Oct. 2025
But there remains a niggling problem: There’s too much of a good thing here.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 18 Sep. 2025
Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
For example, experiencing a consistent niggle in your hip while running may actually be due to pelvic floor dysfunction.
—Jordan Smith, Outside, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for niggle
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Verb
Later though, the conversation niggled at me.
—Rachel Linden, PEOPLE, 4 Oct. 2025
But there remains a niggling problem: There’s too much of a good thing here.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 18 Sep. 2025
Noun
The last thing new parents need is an injury or niggle, but for those who are keen to start clocking up the miles, a new study offers some surprising reassurance: running with a stroller may actually lower the risk of injury.
—Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
For example, experiencing a consistent niggle in your hip while running may actually be due to pelvic floor dysfunction.
—Jordan Smith, Outside, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for niggle
Cite this Entry
“Niggle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/niggle. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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