nags; nagged; nagging
1
a
: to annoy (someone) by often complaining about his or her behavior, appearance, etc.
—+ about
My wife nags me about my busy work schedule.
Mom's always nagging me about my hair.
All you ever do is nag.
b
: to annoy (someone) with repeated questions, requests, or orders
My parents are always nagging me to clean my room.
He kept nagging her until she agreed to see the movie.
Quit nagging! I already said I'm not going.
2
: to cause (someone) to feel annoyed or worried for a long period of time
She's still nagged [=bothered] by the thought that she could have done better.
—often + atThe problem has been nagging at me for weeks.
plural nags
informal
: a person who nags or complains too often
His wife's an awful nag.
Cite this Entry
“Nag.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/nag. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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