nagging

[nag-ing]

adjective

1. continually faultfinding, complaining, or petulant.

   a nagging parent.

2. persistently recurring; unrelenting.

   a nagging backache.

Other Word Forms

• naggingness noun
• unnagging adjective
• unnaggingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of nagging¹

First recorded in 1830–40; nag ¹ + -ing ²

Example Sentences

The actor said she was diagnosed with the disease earlier this year after consulting a doctor about a nagging feeling that something “wasn’t quite right” with her body.

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If not for that nagging fear of being spotted, it would have been a very pleasant hike.

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Investors who love high-yield dividend stocks have to cope with a nagging fear: What if the dividend gets cut?

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The high-profile layoff announcements reflect both the embrace of artificial intelligence and nagging concerns that companies overstaffed or overpaid hires as they scrambled to reopen from the pandemic four years ago.

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The offensive line is still dealing with nagging injuries.

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Related Words

• aching 
• agonizing 
• excruciating 
• grievous 
• inflamed www.thesaurus.com
• severe 
• terrible 
• throbbing 
• troublesome