as in disturbing
causing worry or anxiety
I have this nagging feeling that something will still go wrong
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in urging
to subject (someone) to constant scoldings and sharp reminders
she kept nagging him to fix the furnace before the weather got any colder
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in complaining
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely
if all you can do is nag, then you are of no use to this organization at all
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of nagging
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 28 Sep. 2025
Luchanko — who hardly skated at all before camp due to a nagging groin injury — is sure to play in at least one or two of the Flyers’ three remaining preseason games.
—Kevin Kurz, New York Times, 28 Sep. 2025
Brent Lang, Variety, 1 Oct. 2025
Napier’s playcalling has been the focus of most outside criticism, but the lack of offensive continuity each game may be the largest issue nagging Florida.
—Noah White, Miami Herald, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nagging
Adjective
The extensive embellishment of a score by Bobby Krlic (the English musician who records as the Haxan Cloak), drenched in moody synths and guitar, fits the tone but also adds to the nagging sense that the younger Day-Lewis’ storytelling too often mistakes padding for atmosphere.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 28 Sep. 2025
Luchanko — who hardly skated at all before camp due to a nagging groin injury — is sure to play in at least one or two of the Flyers’ three remaining preseason games.
—Kevin Kurz, New York Times, 28 Sep. 2025
Verb
Neither Winter nor Reeves cares much if audiences buy tickets expecting more Bill and Ted good times, only to be confronted with Beckett’s nagging existentialism instead.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 1 Oct. 2025
Napier’s playcalling has been the focus of most outside criticism, but the lack of offensive continuity each game may be the largest issue nagging Florida.
—Noah White, Miami Herald, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nagging
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nagging
Adjective
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The private messages offer a disturbing glimpse into how Jones — who is looking to oust incumbent Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares this fall — describes his political adversaries in private conversations.—
Amy DeLaura,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Oct. 2025
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There were masks and body suits made of female skin, along with human skulls for soup bowls and other disturbing oddities.—
Christopher Rudolph,
PEOPLE,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Rachel Goldberg-Polin emerged as a moral voice, urging an end to the war and healing for Israel's internal divisions.—
Romina Ruiz-Goiriena,
USA Today,
4 Oct. 2025
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The city of Evanston, an urban suburb of Chicago, issued a statement warning its residents of impending raids by ICE agents and urging them to report sightings of law enforcement.—
Rebecca Schneid,
Time,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
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And the truth is, other nations should stop complaining — and start learning.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
1 Oct. 2025
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Thus, unlike disgruntled newspaper readers, whose only resort was to write an angry letter to the editor, radio listeners could now vent their frustrations by going over the heads of a local affiliate and complaining directly to the government.—
Thomas Doherty,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Toxic masculinity, of both the younger and older varieties, are on unsettling display in Alejandro Castro Arias’ debut feature, which recently received its world premiere at the Oldenburg International Film Festival.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Oct. 2025
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The news has prompted fears that the services will drive down prices, unsettling local tour operators in Kenya where the tourism sector accounts for 10% of the country’s GDP and employs more than a million people, many working in the safari tours space.—
Martin K.N Siele,
semafor.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Or that the hamster her daughter kept begging, begging, begging Linda to get turns out to be a raging, biting terror?—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
10 Oct. 2025
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There’s a brilliant scene in which Linda unspools a throwdown rant at O’Brien’s character, begging him to help her but not willing to meet him halfway on the patient’s couch.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The crowd Toronto killed with six early runs revived into a living, screaming organism, cheering the Blue Jays’ compiling collapse.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
8 Oct. 2025
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Luckily, this Prime Day (which takes place on October 7 and 8) there are a handful of screaming hot deals on everything from tents to sleeping bags to multitools and more.—
Alex Robinson,
Outdoor Life,
8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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That's what makes reports of Wikipedia's systemic bias especially troubling.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
6 Oct. 2025
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For many 007 fans who commented online, the artwork situation may have been a troubling look to the future of James Bond, especially with a new film being readied and Denis Villeneuve in the director’s chair.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The dog recognizes that something is amiss, but isn’t capable of understanding what’s really bothering Todd.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
3 Oct. 2025
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The injury that will sideline Herro to begin this season is one that had been bothering him for a few months.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
29 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nagging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nagging. Accessed 11 Oct. 2025.
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