nagging

USAGE SUMMARY

"nagging" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it to describe someone who persistently complains or criticizes in an annoying or irritating manner. For example, "My mother's nagging was so annoying I had to leave the room."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But there are legitimate, nagging doubts because there is still no requirement in any country for companies to conduct long term trials.

The Guardian

Yes, if investors have nagging doubts, then the current working capital position could be off-putting; indeed the Great Stella development needs to come on-stream as promised.

The Guardian - Business

See, we already know from teachers what causes their workload: Ofsted, curriculum changes, and nagging little jobs such as data entry and wall displays.

The Guardian

Arsenal have not won a trophy since 2005 and, although they sit two points clear at the top of the Premier League with 14 matches to play, nagging doubts remain about their durability.

The Guardian - Sport

Over time nagging doubts grew about whether these islands of educational autonomy were working to increase segregation, both between the social classes and between immigrants and nationals.

The Guardian - Opinion

In Belgium you cannot join a club to play organised football until you are six years old, but after a friend had done enough crying and nagging, the president of a local club, Bilzen, allowed the two youngsters in.

The Guardian - Sport

Yet there could hardly be a more persistently nagging agenda item than Israeli-Palestinian peace.

The Guardian - Opinion

Nagging doubts about Sony's strategy gave way to vigorous condemnation of the firm that was for years a symbol of Japan's better economic side.In this section How good is Google?

The Economist

That was the lesson of two studies presented to a meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, held in San Diego earlier this week.In one of the studies, Jonathan Cohen, of Princeton University, and his colleagues tried to explain an anomaly that has been nagging economists for decades.

The Economist

Mr Cameron's manners are too good to accuse him of lecturing the Russians, let alone nagging them.

The Economist

Nagging depression drives her to seek the services and the arms of a psychiatrist, Morel, the evangelical secularist.Mr Rush is a master at parsing the seemingly casual exchange between true intimates.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the intensity of the annoyance when choosing "nagging"; it suggests a mild, persistent irritation rather than severe distress.

Common error

While "nagging" is acceptable, overuse can make writing sound informal or biased. Opt for more neutral terms like "persistent" or "recurring" in professional or academic settings.

Linguistic Context

The word "nagging" typically functions as an adjective, modifying nouns to describe a persistent or annoying quality. As Ludwig AI shows, it often describes doubts, concerns, or problems.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "nagging" is a versatile adjective used to describe persistent and mildly annoying issues, feelings, or doubts. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and frequently used, particularly in news and media. While acceptable in most contexts, writers should consider more formal alternatives for academic or professional writing. By understanding its connotations and common usages, you can effectively incorporate "nagging" into your writing to convey a specific sense of persistent, low-level irritation or worry.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

persistent

Focuses on the continuous nature of the issue or behavior.

troubling

Highlights the worrying aspect of the problem.

vexing

Emphasizes the irritating or frustrating nature.

bothersome

Indicates something that causes mild disturbance or irritation.

lingering

Implies a problem that remains or persists longer than expected.

recurrent

Stresses the repeated occurrence of something.

haunting

Suggests a persistent and disturbing presence in one's thoughts.

unsettling

Highlights the anxiety-inducing quality of a situation.

chronic

Implies a long-lasting and difficult-to-resolve problem.

dogging

Suggests something that persistently follows or plagues someone.

FAQs

How can I use "nagging" in a sentence?

You can use "nagging" to describe something that is persistently annoying or worrying. For example, "He had a nagging feeling that something was wrong."

What are some alternatives to "nagging"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "persistent", "troubling", or "bothersome".

Is "nagging" a positive or negative term?

"Nagging" generally has a negative connotation, as it implies something is annoyingly persistent. It's often used to describe problems or doubts.

When is it appropriate to use "nagging" in writing?

Use "nagging" when you want to emphasize the persistently irritating or worrying nature of something. However, avoid overuse in formal writing, where more neutral alternatives may be preferable.