1
as in urged
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in complained
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of nagged
In 2025, Leavitt was nagged by a foot injury that eventually required season-ending surgery.
—
Bruce Feldman, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026
One friend fully dives in to the dissociative spirit of the event, while the other is more cautious, nagged by the feeling that something might not quite be right.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026
But that night, the interaction nagged at her.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 8 Dec. 2025
Ultimately, the inflationary trends that had long nagged at the penny’s wellbeing became too weighty to bear.
—Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 12 Nov. 2025
The mystery of their survival nagged at Alex Maranghides, a fire-protection engineer at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), who worked with several colleagues on a meticulous reconstruction of the fire.
—Ingfei Chen, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2025
Plus, if you’re constantly nagged by pesky mosquitos and other flying critters, scoop up this outdoor bug zapper to rid your space of bugs for good.
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 7 Oct. 2025
The Angels finally made a concession to the back trouble that has nagged Tyler Anderson all season.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 12 Aug. 2025
Bruce Feldman, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026
One friend fully dives in to the dissociative spirit of the event, while the other is more cautious, nagged by the feeling that something might not quite be right.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026
But that night, the interaction nagged at her.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 8 Dec. 2025
Ultimately, the inflationary trends that had long nagged at the penny’s wellbeing became too weighty to bear.
—Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 12 Nov. 2025
The mystery of their survival nagged at Alex Maranghides, a fire-protection engineer at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), who worked with several colleagues on a meticulous reconstruction of the fire.
—Ingfei Chen, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2025
Plus, if you’re constantly nagged by pesky mosquitos and other flying critters, scoop up this outdoor bug zapper to rid your space of bugs for good.
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 7 Oct. 2025
The Angels finally made a concession to the back trouble that has nagged Tyler Anderson all season.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 12 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nagged
Verb
-
Industry groups such as the Federation of American Hospitals have been vocal about the threat to hospitals’ financial health and have urged Congress to extend the enhanced subsidies, which take the form of tax credits.—
Blake Farmer,
Miami Herald,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Petek also urged lawmakers to significantly address the state’s structural deficit, which would take either cutting spending or increasing tax revenues.—
Andrew Graham,
Sacbee.com,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
So much that theaters complained.—
Dana Harris-Bridson,
IndieWire,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Opponents at the meeting complained about the loss of privacy, traffic congestion and the lack of parking, and said the project by now was supposed to include retail and commercial elements that create a thriving town center.—
Julie Gallant,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Aamir Tinwala, a middle-schooler living through pandemic isolation, begged his parents for a pet.—
Ruby Mellen,
Washington Post,
10 Jan. 2026
-
As a kid in Rochester, New York, Kane begged his parents for a dollar to play.—
Anna Rahmanan,
thehustle.co,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Videos circulating on social media appeared to show a U-Haul truck moving quickly through a dense crowd as people screamed.—
Sophia Compton,
FOXNews.com,
12 Jan. 2026
-
The photo outside Enzo Ferrari’s house in the grounds of its factory in Maranello, Italy, on his first day at the latter screamed ‘aura’.—
Luke Smith,
New York Times,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
About 50 seconds into overtime, Utah appeared to have possession with a chance to clear, but Werenski, Fantilli, Marchenko and Voronkov hounded the puck, using all means to keep it in the zone.—
Aaron Portzline,
New York Times,
12 Jan. 2026
-
They’re hounded into the hereafter.—
Lili Anolik,
Vanity Fair,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Chip whined and nuzzled at my hand.—
Joel M. Vance,
Outdoor Life,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The cold never bothered them anyway.—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Long stretches of solitude neither bothered him nor appeared to impair his sociability.—
Paige Williams,
New Yorker,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Critics moaned when the CFP committee picked the Hurricanes over Notre Dame as the last Power 4 entry into the playoffs.—
Chris Hays,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Strapped to a stretcher in the back of an ambulance, the shooting victim moaned, then screamed.—
Lauren Caruba,
Dallas Morning News,
2 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nagged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nagged. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
