adj Uncommon

nagging

Nagging (adj) means Persistently annoying, worrying, or painful. Example: “He couldn't shake the nagging suspicion that he'd forgotten something.”

adj

Persistently annoying, worrying, or painful.

"He couldn't shake the nagging suspicion that he'd forgotten something."

"A nagging pain in her knee kept her off the court for weeks."

noun

The act of repeatedly pestering someone.

"His constant nagging finally got the shelves put up."

How to use nagging

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomething that keeps bothering you persistently, whether it's a pain, a doubt, or a person's complaints.

Common pairings

nagging doubt nagging pain nagging feeling

Word forms

more nagging comparative, more nagging comparative, naggings plural, most nagging superlative, most nagging superlative

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He couldn't shake the _____ suspicion that he'd forgotten something.

Rhymes for nagging

lagging tagging bagging sagging gagging wagging ragging dragging bragging shagging

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Frequently asked questions

What does “nagging” mean?

The word “nagging” means persistently annoying, worrying, or painful. In plain terms, something that keeps bothering you persistently, whether it's a pain, a doubt, or a person's complaints.

How do you use “nagging” in a sentence?

Here is “nagging” used in a sentence: “He couldn't shake the nagging suspicion that he'd forgotten something.”

What part of speech is “nagging”?

Depending on how it is used, “nagging” can be an adjective and a noun.

Is “nagging” a common word?

“Nagging” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “nagging” have?

“Nagging” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: persistently annoying, worrying, or painful.