nagging

UK: /ˈnægɪŋ/ US: /ˈnægɪŋ/ ,(nag′ing)

From the verb nag: (⇒ conjugate)

nagging is: ⓘ

v pres p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

nag•ging /ˈnægɪŋ/  adj. 

1. persistently bothersome:
   a nagging backache.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

nag•ging  (nag′ing), adj. 

1. continually faultfinding, complaining, or petulant:
   a nagging parent.
2. persistently recurring;
   unrelenting:
   a nagging backache.

• nag¹ + -ing² 1830–40

nag′ging•ness, n. 

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

nag¹ /næg/   v., nagged, nag•ging, n. 
v. 

1. to annoy by continuously finding fault or making demands: [~ + object (+ into + verb)]
   nagged them into contributing money.
   [no object]
   He kept nagging about needing money.
2. to be a constant source of unease or irritation to: [~ + object]
   Her doubts nagged her.
   [no object]
   The debt kept nagging at his conscience.

n. [countable]

3. a person who nags.

nag² /næg/   n. [countable]

1. a horse, esp. one that is old or worn out.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

nag¹  (nag), v., nagged, nag•ging, n. 
v.t. 

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.

v.i. 

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.

n. 

5. Also, nagger. a person who nags, esp. habitually.
6. an act or instance of nagging.

• Old Norse nagga to rub, grumble, quarrel; akin to Middle Low German naggen to irritate. See gnaw
• 1815–25

Synonyms

• 1. pester, harass, hector, irritate, vex.

nag²  (nag), n. 

1. an old, inferior, or worthless horse.
2. [Slang.] any horse, esp. a racehorse.
3. a small riding horse or pony.

• 1350–1400; late Middle English nagge; connected with Dutch neg(ge) small horse, itself attested late and of obscure origin, originally; said to be akin to neigh

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

nag / næɡ/ verb (nags, nagging, nagged)

1. to scold or annoy constantly
2. when intr, often followed by at: to be a constant source of discomfort or worry (to)

noun

1. a person who nags

Etymology: 19th Century: of Scandinavian origin; compare Swedish nagga to gnaw, irritate, German nagen

ˈnagger noun

nag / næɡ/ noun

1. a horse
2. a small riding horse

Etymology: 14th Century: of Germanic origin; related to neigh