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
Scott Patterson
b
: causing continual or recurring pain or discomfort
He'd had a nagging headache all day.
a nagging injury
naggingly
adverb
There has always been something naggingly sad about Bonds' career …
—Tim Keown
Tim Keown
… something about the book feels naggingly familiar, as if you know how it will end before you start …
—Debra Pickett
Debra Pickett
Examples of nagging in a Sentence
I have this nagging feeling that something will still go wrong
Recent Examples on the Web
Stanley needs to know as the guitars come crashing in to join him on the nagging chorus.
—Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 17 Oct. 2025
The same bothersome right ankle that delayed his Dodgers debut after the trade deadline last season continued to be a nagging issue throughout 2025.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
In addition to McLaurin's quad issue, veteran WR Deebo Samuel has been dealing with a nagging heel injury that has him questionable to take the field on Sunday.
—Matt Audilet, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
No big credit red flags, though corporate credit spreads are up off their lows in recent weeks and the nagging questions about a couple of private-debt blowups are on repeat.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nagging
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Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 17 Oct. 2025
The same bothersome right ankle that delayed his Dodgers debut after the trade deadline last season continued to be a nagging issue throughout 2025.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
In addition to McLaurin's quad issue, veteran WR Deebo Samuel has been dealing with a nagging heel injury that has him questionable to take the field on Sunday.
—Matt Audilet, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
No big credit red flags, though corporate credit spreads are up off their lows in recent weeks and the nagging questions about a couple of private-debt blowups are on repeat.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nagging
Cite this Entry
“Nagging.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nagging. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
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