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
The more recognizable symptoms of COPD range from a nagging cough, chronic mucus production, fatigue, or breathlessness.
—Team Verywell Health, Verywell Health, 13 May 2025
The edge is usually taken off by the nagging brain worms of the fretter.
—Nick Miller, New York Times, 11 May 2025
Another tough outing has some wondering if the arm sleeve is thinly concealing a nagging injury.
—Matt Schubert, Denver Post, 11 May 2025
The decision came in the wake of Carr searching for a non-surgical solution to his nagging offseason shoulder injury.
—Kambui Bomani, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for nagging
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Team Verywell Health, Verywell Health, 13 May 2025
The edge is usually taken off by the nagging brain worms of the fretter.
—Nick Miller, New York Times, 11 May 2025
Another tough outing has some wondering if the arm sleeve is thinly concealing a nagging injury.
—Matt Schubert, Denver Post, 11 May 2025
The decision came in the wake of Carr searching for a non-surgical solution to his nagging offseason shoulder injury.
—Kambui Bomani, Forbes.com, 10 May 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 17 May. 2025.
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