Word
nagging
Phoneticsnag·ging
US/ˈnæɡɪŋ/
UK/nˈæɡɪŋ/
Definition
adj. describing a feeling or thought that stays in your mind and will not go away. It is often used for a small but constant worry or a physical pain that does not stop.
adj. persistently annoying or distressing; used to describe a recurring thought, doubt, or physical sensation that is difficult to ignore. Often used as a participial adjective before a noun.
Examples
“She has a nagging feeling that she forgot her keys.”
“Despite the doctor's reassurance, he couldn't shake the nagging doubt that something was seriously wrong.”
“The athlete struggled to maintain her focus during the final set, hampered by a nagging injury in her left ankle that had flared up during the warm-up.”
Examples
simple
“She has a nagging feeling that she forgot her keys.”
contextual
“Despite the doctor's reassurance, he couldn't shake the nagging doubt that something was seriously wrong.”
complex
“The athlete struggled to maintain her focus during the final set, hampered by a nagging injury in her left ankle that had flared up during the warm-up.”
Usage
Typically used attributively before nouns like 'doubt', 'feeling', 'pain', or 'worry'.
Real-World Examples
“Yet there was a nagging feeling the team might have gone further.” “I'm building these models and hope to have better answers to this nagging question before long.”