nagging

adjective

nag·​ging ˈna-giŋ How to pronounce nagging (audio)
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 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

Examples of nagging in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Fully remote workers may find themselves lately with the nagging feeling that promotions and plum assignments are passing them by. Bypaolo Confino, Fortune, 18 Mar. 2024 And not only is the nagging getting worse, but patients hate it because these are private health matters seemingly being shared in a wide network of doctors, databases and even with some total strangers. Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN, 16 Mar. 2024 Women’s caregiving duties and the extraordinary cost of childcare combined with the nagging gender pay gap all factor into women’s desire for more flexible work. Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune Europe, 12 Mar. 2024 Generally, robust wage growth has allowed consumers to keep spending despite high interest rates, nagging inflation and dwindling pandemic savings. USA TODAY, 10 Mar. 2024 On top of this Chameleon business, Po has to handle a nagging directive from his master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman), who has instructed him to appoint a Dragon Warrior successor. Katie Walsh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Mar. 2024 Who among us has not tried to see our doctor for a nagging, non-life-threatening condition only to be told their next appointment is six weeks away? Joe Harpaz, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 Ellis, who has been hampered by a nagging hamstring injury, exploded for a season-high 30 points with five assists and five three-pointers, his most in a game since Jan. 6. Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2024 Messi had missed a Feb. 4 preseason win in Hong Kong because of nagging injuries. Alanis Thames, USA TODAY, 16 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'nagging.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1829, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of nagging was in 1829

Dictionary Entries Near nagging

Cite this Entry

“Nagging.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nagging. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

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