Niggling

Pronunciation: /ˈnɪɡəlɪŋ/

Definitions of niggling

adjective causing slight but persistent annoyance, discomfort, or anxiety

Example Sentences

A1 I have a niggling feeling that I forgot something important.

A2 The niggling pain in my shoulder has been bothering me for days.

B1 Her niggling doubts about the project made her hesitant to move forward.

B2 The niggling issue of funding was finally resolved after weeks of negotiations.

C1 His niggling perfectionism often led to delays in completing projects.

C2 The niggling criticism from her colleagues only served to motivate her to work harder.

Examples of niggling in a Sentence

formal The niggling issue with the contract needs to be addressed before we can proceed.

informal I have this niggling feeling that I forgot something important.

slang Stop niggling me about the plans, I'll get to it when I can.

figurative The niggling doubt in the back of her mind kept her from fully enjoying the party.

Grammatical Forms of niggling

• past tense: niggled
• plural: nigglings
• comparative: more niggling
• superlative: most niggling
• present tense: niggle
• future tense: will niggle
• perfect tense: have niggled
• continuous tense: is niggling
• singular: niggling
• positive degree: niggling
• infinitive: to niggle
• gerund: niggling
• participle: niggled

Origin and Evolution of niggling

First Known Use: 1601 year

Language of Origin: Middle English

Story behind the word: The word 'niggling' is believed to have originated from the Middle English word 'nygelen', which meant to trifle or worry over small details.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'niggling' has evolved to mean something annoying or bothersome, often referring to small or insignificant details that cause frustration or irritation.