adj
niggly
Niggly (adj) means Irritable and easily annoyed by small things.
adj
1
Irritable and easily annoyed by small things.
"With so much at stake, both teams were hesitant and cagey early on, the game with littered with late tackles and niggly fouls."
— Alex Mills, Larne headed for Conference League group stages as Andy Ryan hat-trick secures historic Play-Off joy (2024)
2
Small and not very important.
"They'd argue a lot, about little niggly things — and they had never been like that."
— Michael Morpurgo, Kensuke's Kingdom (2003)
3
Fussy about small, unimportant details.
"Now things are less confrontational but just as niggly. The Spanish examine drivers' papers with elaborate care, causing huge traffic jams"
— Michael Palin, Sahara (2003)
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like niggly.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Etymology
Niggly is formed from niggle and -y.
Rhymes for niggly
See all rhymes for niggly →Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of niggly?
"niggly" (adj) means irritable and easily annoyed by small things.
What are the different meanings of niggly?
"niggly" has 3 main meanings: 1. Irritable and easily annoyed by small things; 2. Small and not very important; 3. Fussy about small, unimportant details.