🔊 Pronunciation: /ˈnɪɡəl/
(NIG-uhl)
🗣️ Part of Speech: Verb
Definition:
To niggle means to complain or criticize about small, unimportant issues or to engage in minor, persistent annoyances or details that are often trivial or insignificant.
It can also refer to small, persistent doubts or worries that keep resurfacing without any major cause.
Examples:
- "Stop niggling about the little things; focus on the big picture!"
- "He kept niggling about the way the project was managed, even though it was mostly fine."
- "Her mind kept niggling at her with doubts about the decision she made."
(Refers to making trivial complaints or criticisms.)
(Shows someone obsessing over small, unimportant flaws.)
(Illustrates persistent, minor worries that aren't significant but linger in the mind.)
🧠 Bonus Tip:
- Use niggle when referring to small, petty complaints or minor concerns.
- It's often used informally and can imply that the issue being raised is not a serious or major problem.
💡 Think of it like:
When you're niggling, you're getting stuck on small annoyances or trivial details, like nitpicking things that don't really matter.
Niggle = to make petty complaints or fuss about something minor.