to niggle
1
7.6
- verb
- /ˈnɪɡəl/
- UK
:
preocupar
- And even though I never intended it to happen this way, her story niggled in the back of my mind for about six months.
- niggling worries
- niggling doubts
- niggling thoughts
Examples
-
And in the back of me mind, there's this niggling doubt..
-
In his own actions, the element of self-indulgence niggled at his conscience.
Fiction book (1991) -
And then he asked the question that had been niggling at the back of his mind all evening.
Fiction book (1990) -
Something niggled at the back of my mind.
Fiction book (1995) -
Something niggled at the back of his mind for just an instant before he dismissed it.
Fiction book (1991) -
Then that small, niggling worry was interrupted by a bigger worry when he told her that a psychiatrist would want to talk with her shortly.
Fiction book (1999) -
If something about the situation in Iran was niggling at Rossini, now was the time to pin it down.
Fiction book (1996) -
Those niggling alterations creep into our lives until we laugh at ourselves.
Blog text (16) -
You are right about not approaching one's hobby like work, but sometimes you know that until you sort something out, it is going to niggle away at you and that you won't rest until it is sorted.
Blog text (28) -
A small mistake continued to niggle at her, even after she tried to forget about it.
Synonyms
449
2.0
To disturb or interrupt someone and make them feel annoyed
246
1.0
Make someone slightly angry or bothered by small repeated actions
85
3.7
To annoy someone by bothering them repeatedly
67
4.2
Make someone feel worried or annoyed about small things
63
6.9
Make someone annoyed, often by small things
31
4.1
Make someone feel slightly upset or annoyed
19
2.8
To worry too much about small things
10
6.8
To feel annoyed by rules or repeated problems
5
3.9
To feel a small, constant worry that bothers you
2
6.8
To annoy or upset someone in a way that feels sharp
To keep asking or complaining to make someone do something
Antonyms
How Bothered
Surface Forms
Etymology
The word niggle may come from the idea of a small thing that keeps bothering you, like a tiny 'needle' or a little 'nibble' you can always feel. A helpful way to remember it is this: when something niggles you, it causes a small but steady worry or irritation.