niggle

1 of 2

verb

nig·gle ˈni-gəl

niggled; niggling ˈni-g(ə-)liŋ

Synonyms of niggle next

intransitive verb

: trifle

: to spend too much effort on minor details

: to find fault constantly in a petty way : carp

she haggles, she niggles, she wears out our patience—

Virginia Woolf

: gnaw

transitive verb

: to give stingily or in tiny portions

niggler

ˈni-g(ə-)lər

noun

niggle

2 of 2

noun

chiefly British

: a trifling doubt, objection, or complaint

Examples of niggle in a Sentence

Verb She had been niggled by worry her entire life. He's always niggling over small details. Noun I've had a knee niggle for the past few days. He has a bit of a niggle in his back. I have a few minor niggles about the performance.

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Verb

Don’t jeopardize your health or well-being to fit a criterion someone else is niggling you to adopt. —

Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 28 July 2024 But studies also suggest insurers are wont to drag their feet, niggling over coding and charges — and, in doing so, delaying reimbursement and holding on to the cash. —

Elisabeth Rosenthal, CBS News, 17 July 2024

Noun

There are a few remaining niggles such as the unpredictable automatic windscreen wipers and variable experiences with Autopilot. —

James Morris, Forbes, 19 Oct. 2024 But that’s the only real niggle, because as a sports car the Cyberster ticks the boxes well. —

James Morris, Fortune Europe, 6 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for niggle