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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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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
-
Rush urged her colleagues to be vigilant after the shooting.—
Sarah Lynch Baldwin,
CBS News,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Several legislators urged the University to terminate Cooper, and the university refused.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
City staff investigated areas where residents had complained about speeding cars, as well as spots that had previously had issues recorded by speed studies or police enforcement.—
Beth Lipoff,
Kansas City Star,
21 Jan. 2026
-
White also suggested that Harry could have complained about these stories at the time of their publication but chose not to.—
Lauren Said-Moorhouse,
CNN Money,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
According to the prosecution’s filing, Busfield had begged the family not to report him to police and promised to get therapy.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
14 Jan. 2026
-
At the time, Busfield begged the family not to report the incident to law enforcement and promising to participate in psychotherapy, according to the motion.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Anything is possible, as Kevin Garnett once screamed.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Fans screamed lyrics like confessionals.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
22 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
-
At some point, the markets may get bothered by midterm [elections].—
Sean Conlon,
CNBC,
20 Jan. 2026
-
Vega asked Charles if he was bothered by that.—
Michael Rey,
CBS News,
19 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
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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 24 Jan. 2026.
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