1
: persistently annoying or finding fault with someone
a nagging husband/wife
2
a
: causing continual or recurring worry or anxiety
a nagging fear
This time, the worry is that the housing slowdown will curtail growth before the Federal Reserve gets nagging inflation concerns resolved.—
Scott Patterson
Scott Patterson
b
: causing continual or recurring pain or discomfort
He'd had a nagging headache all day.
a nagging injury
naggingly
adverb
There has always been something naggingly sad about Bonds' career …
—Tim Keown
Tim Keown
… something about the book feels naggingly familiar, as if you know how it will end before you start …
—Debra Pickett
Debra Pickett
Examples of nagging in a Sentence
I have this nagging feeling that something will still go wrong
Recent Examples on the Web
That results in violence experienced first as a tragedy, then as a nagging mystery by Jaspers’ post office coworkers.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 17 Apr. 2025
The signs include relentless exhaustion, a growing sense of cynicism, and a nagging feeling that their efforts don’t matter.
—Jack Kelly, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025
But because of a nagging knee injury, Holiday is no longer eligible for awards.
—Fred Katz, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
But at the same time, there might be a strange nagging feeling at the back of their collective minds.
—Nick Miller, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nagging
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Dennis Harvey, Variety, 17 Apr. 2025
The signs include relentless exhaustion, a growing sense of cynicism, and a nagging feeling that their efforts don’t matter.
—Jack Kelly, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025
But because of a nagging knee injury, Holiday is no longer eligible for awards.
—Fred Katz, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
But at the same time, there might be a strange nagging feeling at the back of their collective minds.
—Nick Miller, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nagging
Cite this Entry
“Nagging.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nagging. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
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