niggle

noun

/ˈnɪɡl/

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(British English) a small criticism or complaint
- My only niggle is that they should have told me sooner.
- niggle about/over something niggles over ticket prices
a slight feeling, such as worry, doubt, etc. that does not go away
- a niggle of doubt
- In his mind there was that same old niggle—had he done the right thing?
a slight pain
- He gets the occasional niggle in his right shoulder.
Topics Illnessc2

Word Originearly 17th cent. (in the sense ‘do in an ineffectual way’): apparently of Scandinavian origin; compare with Norwegian nigla. Current senses date from the late 18th cent.

niggle

verb

/ˈnɪɡl/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they niggle	/ˈnɪɡl/ /ˈnɪɡl/
he / she / it niggles	/ˈnɪɡlz/ /ˈnɪɡlz/
past simple niggled	/ˈnɪɡld/ /ˈnɪɡld/
past participle niggled	/ˈnɪɡld/ /ˈnɪɡld/
-ing form niggling	/ˈnɪɡlɪŋ/ /ˈnɪɡlɪŋ/

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[intransitive, transitive] to annoy somebody slightly; to make somebody slightly worried synonym bother
- niggle at somebody A doubt niggled at her.
it niggles somebody that… (British English)
- It niggled him that she had not phoned back.
niggle somebody (British English)
- Something was niggling her.
[intransitive] to argue about something unimportant; to criticize somebody for something that is unimportant
- niggle about something I hate to niggle about little mistakes.
- niggle over something We needn't niggle over whose turn it is.
synonym quibbleTopics Opinion and argumentc2

Word Originearly 17th cent. (in the sense ‘do in an ineffectual way’): apparently of Scandinavian origin; compare with Norwegian nigla. Current senses date from the late 18th cent.