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Niggle vs Nag - What's the difference?

niggle | nag |

As nouns the difference between niggle and nag

is that niggle is a minor complaint or problem while nag is a small horse; a pony or nag can be one who.

As verbs the difference between niggle and nag

is that niggle is to trifle with; to deceive; to mock while nag is to repeatedly remind or complain to someone in an annoying way, often about insignificant matters.

niggle

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A minor complaint or problem.
  • * 2012 , The Guardian, London 2012: Christian Taylor aims high as Phillips Idowu stays away , by Anna Kessel
    • The Olympic medal contender's back problem has been described as a "niggle " by the head coach, Charles van Commenee, but Porter's friend and former team-mate Danielle Carruthers revealed that the injury is playing on the Briton's mind.
  • (obsolete) Small, cramped handwriting.

    • Verb

    (niggl)
  • To trifle with; to deceive; to mock.
    • (Beaumont and Fletcher)
  • To dwell too much on minor points.
  • To fidget, fiddle, be restless.

    • Derived terms

    * niggly

    Anagrams

    *

    nag

    English

    Etymology 1

    (etyl) nagge'', cognate with Dutch ''negge

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A small horse; a pony.
  • An old useless horse.
  • (obsolete, derogatory) A paramour.
  • * 1598 , , III. x. 11:
    • Yon ribaudred nag of Egypt – Whom leprosy o'ertake!
    Synonyms
    * (old useless horse) dobbin, hack, jade, plug
    Coordinate terms
    * (old useless horse) bum (racing )

    Etymology 2

    Probably from a (etyl) source; compare Swedish .

    Verb

    (nagg)
  • To repeatedly remind or complain to someone in an annoying way, often about insignificant matters.
  • To act inappropriately in the eyes of peers, to backstab, to verbally abuse.
  • To bother with persistent memories.
    • The notion that he forgot something nagged him the rest of the day.
  • Other sorts of persistent annoyance, e.g.:
    • A nagging pain in his left knee
    A nagging north wind

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • One who .

    • Anagrams

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