niggle
verb (used without object)
to criticize, especially constantly or repeatedly, in a peevish or petty way; carp.
was niggling
-
past progressiveof niggle.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It was not the first time Larissa had run away but Karen said something was "niggling" her this time.
From BBC ● May 27, 2026
Still, one thing was niggling me, which no other recipe seemed to mention: Even if you whisk in the cocoa powder well, it’s very easy to end up with some grittiness.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 20, 2022
