niggling

American  

[nig-ling] / ˈnɪg lɪŋ /

adjective

1. petty; trivial; inconsequential.

   to quibble about a niggling difference in terminology.

2. demanding too much care, attention, time, etc..

   niggling chores about the house.

---

niggling British  

/ ˈnɪɡlɪŋ /

adjective

1. petty

2. fussy

3. irritating

4. requiring painstaking work

5. persistently troubling

   a niggling back pain

---

noun

1. an act or instance of niggling

Other Word Forms

• nigglingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of niggling

First recorded in 1590–1600; niggle + -ing ²

Example Sentences

Yes, there it was: the niggling, tickling feeling of belonging.

From Literature

I realize the source of the niggling feeling I had earlier.

From Literature

I got into bed, my legs very weary, a niggling pain in the small of my back.

From Literature

There was, however, a niggling problem: The running premiums on these insurance contracts ate into the short-term returns of Howie’s group.

From Literature

The same niggling doubts I always had about not belonging.

From Literature