as in disturbing
causing worry or anxiety
I have this nagging feeling that something will still go wrong
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in urging
to subject (someone) to constant scoldings and sharp reminders
she kept nagging him to fix the furnace before the weather got any colder
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in complaining
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely
if all you can do is nag, then you are of no use to this organization at all
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of nagging
Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026
Lue said Leonard has been dealing with nagging wrist and ankle injuries and decided to give him a night off heading into the four-team Western Conference Play-In Tournament.
—Janis Carr, Daily News, 13 Apr. 2026
Tiffany Aliche, SELF, 30 Mar. 2026
McCown faced nagging trouble with his shoulder, leg and groin through the 2025 season.
—Greg Luca, San Antonio Express-News, 22 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nagging
Adjective
The 6-foot-7 forward hadn’t played more than 66 games in a season during his first three years in the NBA, often beset by nagging or unlucky injuries.
—Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026
Lue said Leonard has been dealing with nagging wrist and ankle injuries and decided to give him a night off heading into the four-team Western Conference Play-In Tournament.
—Janis Carr, Daily News, 13 Apr. 2026
Verb
So don't push through that nagging feeling.
—Tiffany Aliche, SELF, 30 Mar. 2026
McCown faced nagging trouble with his shoulder, leg and groin through the 2025 season.
—Greg Luca, San Antonio Express-News, 22 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nagging
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nagging
Adjective
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Angels fans who had regained some faith in Yusei Kikuchi after last weekend’s encouraging start could only watch with frustration as all of that was wiped away in one disturbing inning.—
Jeff Fletcher,
Oc Register,
25 Apr. 2026
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Most disturbing about the Game 3 blowout was not the who, but the how.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Shortly after the ruling, Republicans were urging a review of their congressional maps in Louisiana, Tennessee and elsewhere.—
Nicholas Riccardi,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
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On Monday, Bloomberg News reported that around 600 Google workers sent a letter to CEO Sundar Pichai urging him to refuse new AI partnerships with the Pentagon.—
Jared Perlo,
NBC news,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Elsewhere, Super Mario Galaxy is hardly complaining about coming in second ruling the roost for weeks, since it’s now focused on becoming the first film of the year to join the billion-dollar club after finishing Sunday with a global total of $871 million.—
Pamela McClintock,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Apr. 2026
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The dog-waste donnybrook was similar to another recent clash in Brooklyn that saw a 75-year-old grandmother jumped and beaten for complaining that a dog walker was not cleaning up the pooch’s poop.—
Kerry Burke,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Still, things are unsettling here.—
Jen Chaney,
Vulture,
30 Apr. 2026
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But the intention is to create a new generation of horror films that draw from the unsettling power, psychological intensity, and cinematic ambition that made J-horror a defining force in global genre filmmaking.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Rollins stormed off the set, leaving Brandt and the rest of his co-hosts stunned, with the latter begging the former to return and finish his segment.—
Austin Perry OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
24 Apr. 2026
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The seafarer who spoke to ABC News described a grim scene currently of ships drifting with little direction, and listening on the ship-to-ship communication systems called the VHF line -- accounts of crews growing desperate for basic provisions, and some begging to go home.—
Desiree Adib,
ABC News,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Richter’s grand slam Tuesday against Tinley Park ended with plenty of screaming and high-fives at home plate.—
Tony Baranek,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
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Any passengers not knocked out during the chaos or sucked out into the sky are generally screaming and grabbing for oxygen masks while Captain Rich makes a futile announcement about the importance of not panicking.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Their meteoric rise in just the last year is deeply troubling, and state Attorney General Nick Brown is right to have filed a recent lawsuit to stop Kalshi, one of the largest markets, from operating in Washington state.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
25 Apr. 2026
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The row has raised yet more troubling questions about decision-making in the EU, which can often be held hostage to national interests when unanimous votes are required.—
Karel Janicek,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Yusei Kikuchi said throwing fastballs was bothering him again, so the Los Angeles Angels pitcher left Wednesday's 3-2, 10-inning loss to the Chicago White Sox after two innings with left shoulder tightness.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
29 Apr. 2026
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Please order Keegan to make a pre-bathroom coffee for both of us for one week and then stop bothering me about it.—
John Hodgman,
New York Times,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nagging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nagging. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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