niggle — to find fault with in a petty way; to cause slight but persistent annoyance or worry
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to find fault with in a petty way; to cause slight but persistent annoyance or worry
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈnɪɡəl/
Example Sentences
- My boss loves to niggle about the font size in presentations.
- The injury niggle prevented him from playing his best game.
- Stop niggling about the coffee temperature and just drink it!
niggle
VERB[/ˈnɪɡəl/]
to find fault with in a petty way; to cause slight but persistent annoyance or worry
to find fault with in a petty way; to cause slight but persistent annoyance or worry
Don't niggle and make me wiggle - it just makes me giggle!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Derived from 16th-century Scandinavian languages, specifically Norwegian 'nigla' meaning 'to work busily' or 'to busy oneself with trifles'. The word evolved from its original sense of engaging in petty, busy work to its modern meaning of finding fault or complaining about minor details.
Breakdown
The word comes directly from Norwegian 'nigla' (to be busy with trifles), with no further morphological breakdown into distinct morphemes; the -le ending is characteristic of Scandinavian verb formation.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My boss loves to niggle about the font size in presentations.”
“The injury niggle prevented him from playing his best game.”
“Stop niggling about the coffee temperature and just drink it!”
“The doubt continued to niggle at the back of her mind.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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