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nagging - 4 dictionary results

nag⋅ging

  [nag-ing]
Use nagging in a Sentence
–adjective
1. continually faultfinding, complaining, or petulant: a nagging parent.
2. persistently recurring; unrelenting: a nagging backache.
Origin:
1830–40; nag 1 + -ing 2

Related forms:
nag⋅ging⋅ness, noun

nag

1  [nag] verb, nagged, nag⋅ging, noun
–verb (used with object)
1. to annoy by persistent faultfinding, complaints, or demands.
2. to keep in a state of troubled awareness or anxiety, as a recurrent pain or problem: She had certain misgivings that nagged her.
–verb (used without object)
3. to find fault or complain in an irritating, wearisome, or relentless manner (often fol. by at): If they start nagging at each other, I'm going home.
4. to cause pain, discomfort, distress, depression, etc. (often fol. by at): This headache has been nagging at me all day.
–noun
5. Also, nagger. a person who nags, esp. habitually.
6. an act or instance of nagging.
Origin:
1815–25; < ON nagga to rub, grumble, quarrel; akin to MLG naggen to irritate. See gnaw

Synonyms:
1. pester, harass, hector, irritate, vex.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To nagging
nag 1   (nāg)   
v.   nagged, nag·ging, nags

v.   tr.
  1. To annoy by constant scolding, complaining, or urging.
  2. To torment persistently, as with anxiety or pain.
v.   intr.
  1. To scold, complain, or find fault constantly: nagging at the children.
  2. To be a constant source of anxiety or annoyance: The half-remembered quotation nagged at my mind.
n.  One who nags.

[Probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse gnaga, to bite, gnaw.]
nag'ger n., nag'ging·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Nagging

Nag"ging\, a. Fault-finding; teasing; persistently annoying; as, a nagging toothache. [Colloq.]
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : nagging
Spanish: persistente,
German: quälend,
Japanese: しつこい
More Translations »
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