niggle
niggle Lexical Profile
niggle Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To cause slight but persistent annoyance, discomfort, or anxiety.
"A quiet suspicion continued to niggle at the back of her mind throughout the meeting."
To find fault constantly with petty details or make trivial complaints.
"Instead of addressing the core proposal, the committee spent hours niggling over formatting choices."
• noun
A trifling complaint, minor criticism, or slight persistent doubt or annoyance.
"Aside from a few minor niggles about the pacing, the reviewers praised the novel."
British A slight but persistent physical pain or minor muscular injury, especially one experienced by an athlete.
"The midfielder was rested for the weekend match after feeling a slight niggle in his hamstring."
• Rhymes for niggle
Word Origin & Etymology
First recorded in the late 16th century, probably of Scandinavian origin and related to dialectal Norwegian nigla, meaning to fuss over trifles or be stingy.