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
Penguin Press, June 17 Image El Dorado Drive by Megan Abbott
After skipping town to evade a nagging creditor in 2008, Harper returns to her Detroit suburb months later to find her two older sisters, once in the throes of debt, sporting fresh highlights and driving a Lexus.
—Laura Thompson, New York Times, 22 May 2025
On the plane, however, they’re both haunted by nagging doubts voiced by the plane’s captain for Sam and a flight attendant for Diane.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 21 May 2025
Gordon’s 2024-25 has been an emotional slingshot between physical highs and lows — a page-turning shooting breakout followed by nagging injury, followed by moments of franchise heroism.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 16 May 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for nagging
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Laura Thompson, New York Times, 22 May 2025
On the plane, however, they’re both haunted by nagging doubts voiced by the plane’s captain for Sam and a flight attendant for Diane.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 21 May 2025
Gordon’s 2024-25 has been an emotional slingshot between physical highs and lows — a page-turning shooting breakout followed by nagging injury, followed by moments of franchise heroism.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 16 May 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for nagging
Cite this Entry
“Nagging.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nagging. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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