nag

¹ American  

[nag] / næg /

verb (used with object)

nagged, nagging

1. to annoy by persistent faultfinding, complaints, or demands.

   Synonyms:

   vex, irritate, hector, harass, pester

2. to keep in a state of troubled awareness or anxiety, as a recurrent pain or problem.

   She had certain misgivings that nagged her.

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verb (used without object)

nagged, nagging

1. to find fault or complain in an irritating, wearisome, or relentless manner (often followed byat ).

   If they start nagging at each other, I'm going home.

2. to cause pain, discomfort, distress, depression, etc. (often followed byat ).

   This headache has been nagging at me all day.

noun

1. Also a person who nags, especially habitually.

2. an act or instance of nagging.

   His constant nagging finally got the best of me and I lost my temper.

nag ² American  

[nag] / næg /

noun

1. an old, inferior, or worthless horse.

2. Slang. any horse, especially a racehorse.

3. a small riding horse or pony.

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nag ¹ British  

/ næɡ /

verb

1. to scold or annoy constantly

2. to be a constant source of discomfort or worry (to)

   toothache nagged him all day

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noun

1. a person, esp a woman, who nags

nag ² British  

/ næɡ /

noun

1. derogatory a horse

2. a small riding horse

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Other Word Forms

• nagger
  noun
• naggingly
  adverb
• unnagged
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of nag¹

First recorded in 1820–30; from Old Norse nagga “to rub, grumble, quarrel”; akin to Middle Low German naggen “to irritate”; see gnaw

Origin of nag²

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English nag(ge); connected with Dutch neg(ge) “small horse,” of obscure origin; said to be akin to neigh

Explanation

When you ask for something over and over AND over again, you are nagging. If you nag your parents long enough, they'll either give in and get you a puppy, or simply refuse any pets at all — not even a goldfish. When you nag someone, you complain and pester them. Your teacher might nag you about a late assignment, or you might nag your friend to give you back the sweater he borrowed. A thought or worry can also nag you, simply by staying in your thoughts. The word nag meant "gnaw" before the 1820s, from a Scandinavian root.

Example Sentences

The concentration of NAG in the semen is considered a marker of how well the epididymis is functioning.

From Reuters • Feb. 17, 2010

After nearly a year of study, NAG came to a simple conclusion: Europe could not be defended with its present forces without the use of atomic weapons.

From Time Magazine Archive

NAG planners called this force le bouclier, the shield.

From Time Magazine Archive

NAG based its study on one limitation, one advantage and one hope.

From Time Magazine Archive

Related Words

• annoy
• badger
• berate
• fuss
• hector
• hound
• irk
• irritate
• pester
• scold
• tease
• torment
• vex