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niggle 1 of 2

verb

ˈni-gəl How to pronounce niggle (audio)
Definition of nigglenext
as in to complain
to make often peevish criticisms or objections about matters that are minor, unimportant, or irrelevant you know it drives me crazy when you niggle like that

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

niggle

2 of 2

noun

chiefly British
1
as in quibble

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Dissimilar Words
2
as in qualm

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Dissimilar Words

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 niggle
Verb
Henry dismisses Yasmin but can’t shake the niggling feeling that his wife isn’t entirely wrong. — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 16 Feb. 2026 Eda knew from experience that with too much time to think came the niggling whispers of common sense. — Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 22 Jan. 2026
Noun
Cremer came in for Wellington Masakadza, who was left out due to a niggle. — ABC News, 20 Sep. 2026 Williamson played her first 90 minutes in the Women’s Super League in January but has struggled to play consecutive full 90-minute games for her club this season due to minor niggles. — James McNicholas, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for niggle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for niggle
  1. complain
  2. quibble
  3. qualm
  4. fuss
  5. objection
  6. tremor
  7. nitpick
  8. challenge
Verb
  • Toward the end of first grade, Najya started complaining about lunchtime chaos in the cafeteria.
    — Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Patients, their families and lawyers have complained that Kaiser’s private and confidential system of handling medical malpractice complaints is designed to favor the health plan over those bringing the claims.
    — Melody Petersen, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of complain
Noun
  • Still, this is a small quibble next to the accomplishment of this book.
    — John Warner, Chicago Tribune, 13 June 2026
  • The band, expanded to include touring keyboardist Loren Gold, seemed exhilarated, if a little stiff at times, a first-night quibble that will surely self-correct.
    — Joshua Rothkopf, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026
Definition of quibble
Noun
  • Which is why Pedroza has no qualms about putting the game in Thomas’ hands.
    — Caleb Otte, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2026
  • Among the new 44 Squad, which Hondo aptly calls the Exiles, is Sammy Bishop (Lucy Barrett), a gun expert and social media star who, much to Hondo’s horror, has no qualms about live-streaming from headquarters.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of qualm
Verb
  • Perhaps only a pedant—or a hypocrite—would fuss about that kind of imprecision.
    — Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 6 Sep. 2026
  • If the offensive line’s healthy again, RB Saquon Barkley will ramble again, broadening QB Jalen Hurts’ margin for error and being fussed at by the coaching staff.
    — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of fuss
Noun
  • The judge sustained objections when the defense tried to get into some of the caller's specific claims.
    — Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 22 Sep. 2026
  • However, the West Berkshire Council had upheld the objections filed in February and, last month, rejected their appeal.
    — Stefania Conrieri, Vanity Fair, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of objection
Noun
  • Fewer than a dozen people from as far away as Walnut Creek and Stockton immediately reported feeling the tremor to the agency.
    — Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 27 Sep. 2026
  • The disease is marked by symptoms including tremor, stiffness, slow movement, gait and balance problems.
    — Deborah Day, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of tremor
Verb
  • But on a night where there was little to nitpick, the Trojans weren’t exactly efficient on the ground.
    — Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026
  • This can lead to nitpicking as opposed to harnessing important details that can lead to practical solutions.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of nitpick
Noun
  • But getting 50 out of the 53 GOP senators on board for that would be a major challenge.
    — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Coach Joel Quenneville knows the season will be a challenge as the Ducks lean on a young roster and new additions to a defense that gave up the fourth-most goals in the NHL last season.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of challenge

Browse Nearby Words

nifty
niggle
niggled
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Cite this Entry

“Niggle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/niggle. Accessed 30 Sep. 2026.

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