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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of nagging
Liam Twomey,
New York Times,
11 June 2026
When Liverpool, England, debuted new Stadler trains in 2023, the fleet had nagging issues, such as windshield wipers failing to work and doors opening on the wrong side of the train.
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Aj Willingham,
AJC.com,
10 June 2026
Tom Dougherty,
CBS News,
22 Apr. 2026
Marsh declined to offer specifics regarding the lower body injuries nagging Stevens and Westbeld, neither of whom participated in scrimmaging during the final half-hour of training camp made available to the media.
—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nagging
Adjective
Jude Bellingham — England/Real Madrid Between nagging injuries and adjusting his midfield role to accommodate Mbappe and Vinicius in front of him, Bellingham’s final third output has dipped significantly from his blistering debut season at Real Madrid.
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Liam Twomey,
New York Times,
11 June 2026
When Liverpool, England, debuted new Stadler trains in 2023, the fleet had nagging issues, such as windshield wipers failing to work and doors opening on the wrong side of the train.
—
Aj Willingham,
AJC.com,
10 June 2026
Verb
Realmuto has dealt with nagging back and foot injuries this season.
—
Tom Dougherty,
CBS News,
22 Apr. 2026
Marsh declined to offer specifics regarding the lower body injuries nagging Stevens and Westbeld, neither of whom participated in scrimmaging during the final half-hour of training camp made available to the media.
—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nagging
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nagging
Adjective
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That normalization may be the most disturbing aspect of all.
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Although the project is unlikely to affect Jackson’s popularity much, some of the revelations uncovered during the investigation are disturbing.
Verb
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Rodríguez also said the country’s entire public and private healthcare network had been activated to treat the injured, urging doctors, nurses and other medical personnel to report immediately to their workplaces.
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Supporters gathered at the Georgia State Capitol recently urging legislators to override the governor's veto.
Verb
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At one practice during the fall of 2024, Washington’s assistant athletic director of football academics Diamond Brown was standing on the sideline when Jonah bounded up to her in full pads and begun complaining about his grade in a music class.
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Indeed, the internet is full of workers complaining about how their jobs have become akin to manning an assembly line.
Adjective
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The New York Times reported that multiple women who once dated Platner described the Maine oysterman’s behavior as intimidating and unsettling.
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This move, by a native of the attention economy, signals a growing trend of users actively disengaging, unsettling consumer investors.
Verb
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Stuffed with a bacon-cream cheese filling, these poppers are begging to make an appearance this Fourth of July.
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Setting the factory ablaze and escaping, Naim pauses for a minute when the Ryan-like monster appears at a window, begging to be released and claiming to be the human-being.
Verb
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An open 911 line allowed dispatchers to hear gunshots and people screaming inside the building.
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But doing grand openings and screaming out loud doesn't resonate with the brand.
Adjective
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Such hallucinatory citations are, according to judges and lawyers, troubling at a variety of levels, including for their threat to the integrity of the judicial system.
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In the most troubling times and with his country under attack, Max quickly became a beloved and integral part of the ABC News team, reporting at the heart of one of the most devastating wars in modern history.
Verb
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That shift may help explain why some couples notice their partner’s scent bothering them more during periods of conflict.
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The chest pain that had been bothering her finally let up.
Cite this Entry
“Nagging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nagging. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
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