niggle

2 ENTRIES FOUND:

1nig·gle

verb \ˈni-gəl\
nig·glednig·gling\-g(ə-)liŋ\

Definition of NIGGLE

intransitive verb
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>
3
: gnaw
transitive verb
: to give stingily or in tiny portions
nig·gler \-g(ə-)lər\ noun

Examples of NIGGLE

  1. She had been niggled by worry her entire life.
  2. He's always niggling over small details.

Origin of NIGGLE

origin unknown
First Known Use: circa 1616

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