niggle
(redirected from niggly)Also found in: Thesaurus.
nig·gle
(nĭg′əl)v. nig·gled, nig·gling, nig·gles
v.intr.
1. To cause one to be persistently preoccupied, annoyed, or uncomfortable: Doubts niggled at the back of my mind.
2. To pester someone or be annoying or uncomfortable in a persistent way: He niggled at me all day to lend him my car.
3. To be overly concerned or argumentative, especially about something petty; fuss: niggled over contract details.
v.tr.
1. To preoccupy, annoy, make uncomfortable in a persistent way: Suspicions niggled him.
2. To pester or nag (someone).
[Perhaps of Scandinavian origin.]
nig′gler n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
niggle
(ˈnɪɡəl)vb
1. (intr) to find fault continually
2. (intr) to be preoccupied with details; fuss
3. (tr) to irritate; worry
n
4. a slight or trivial objection or complaint
5. a slight feeling as of misgiving, uncertainty, etc
[C16: from Scandinavian; related to Norwegian nigla. Compare niggard]
ˈniggler n
ˈniggly adj
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
nig•gle
(ˈnɪg əl)v.i. -gled, -gling.
1. to spend too much time and effort on inconsequential details; trifle.
2. to criticize in a peevish way; carp.
[1610–20; < Scandinavian; (ultimately < Old Norse hnøggr stingy, c. Old English hnēaw); compare niggard]
nig′gler, n.
nig′gly, adj.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
niggle
Past participle: niggled
Gerund: niggling
| Imperative |
|---|
| niggle |
| niggle |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Verb | 1. | niggle - worry unnecessarily or excessively; "don't fuss too much over the grandchildren--they are quite big now" worry - be worried, concerned, anxious, troubled, or uneasy; "I worry about my job" scruple - raise scruples; "He lied and did not even scruple about it" |
| 2. | niggle - argue over petty things; "Let's not quibble over pennies" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
niggle
verb
noun complaint, moan, grievance, grumble, beef (slang), bitch (slang), lament, grouse, gripe (informal), grouch (informal) The life we have built together is far more important than any minor niggle either of us might have.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
niggle
verbThe American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
niggle
[ˈnɪgl]A. VI → quejarse
B. VT → preocupar
it's something that has always niggled me → es algo que siempre me ha tenido inquieto
it's something that has always niggled me → es algo que siempre me ha tenido inquieto
C. N (= complaint) → queja f; (= worry) → preocupación f
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
niggle
[ˈnɪgəl] vt
(= annoy) → agacer
The tiniest things can niggle you → Les choses les plus insignifiantes peuvent agacer.
The tiniest things can niggle you → Les choses les plus insignifiantes peuvent agacer.
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
niggle
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995