naggingnag‧ging /ˈnæɡɪŋ/ adjective [only before noun] 
There was still a nagging doubt in the back of her mind. Lee had a nagging pain in her back.2always complaining: a nagging wife
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- I can't seem to shake off this nagging cold.
- I have a nagging feeling that I forgot to do something.
- She had a nagging worry that she hadn't done enough to prepare.
- There are still some nagging doubts about the future of the company, though for now it is doing well.
- But I have this nagging suspicion that my luck as a first-timer tour group leader can not hold.
- But there is no nagging sense of anachronism.
- I sound like a nagging father.
- In everything he did there was a touch of charisma, and, following everything he did, a nagging doubt.
- It's sometimes worth asking that nagging little voice what is really the worst thing that can happen now?
- The post-war years brought nagging doubts for Mary, when she was not surrounded by her now four healthy children.
- There was abdominal pain without a doubt and that nagging temperature of 102.5° - that was damn like a wire.
Longman Language Activatorwhen something unpleasant continues for a long time
use this about something annoying or unpleasant that continues for a long time without stopping: · The deadline was getting closer and we were under continual pressure to reach our targets.· The exhaustion felt by new parents comes from the continual disturbance of their sleep patterns.
use this about an unpleasant or frightening situation that continues for a long time without stopping: · She has learned to put up with the constant roar of trucks and cars whizzing by.· People under the regime lived in constant fear.· Lehman is in constant pain, and suffers from a severe form of arthritis.
use this about an unpleasant or upsetting situation that is always there and does not change: · For many working mothers, balancing the demands of children and job is a perpetual strain.· Those who remain in the city are in perpetual danger of being hit by bullets and shells.
something unpleasant and annoying, especially a noise, that is incessant continues over a long period of time and never stops: · Outside the window is the incessant noise of cars and buses.· She gave two- or three-word answers to reporters' incessant questions .· The incessant rain has meant that many matches had to be cancelled.
: nagging doubt/fear/worry/suspicion etc a doubt etc that is probably unnecessary but that stays with you all the time and does not go away: · She had a nagging worry that she hadn't done enough to prepare.· I have a nagging feeling that I forgot to do something.· There are still some nagging doubts about the future of the company, though for now it is doing well.
use this about something unpleasant, boring, or tiring that continues for so long that you think it will never end or change: · How can I stop my children's endless quarrelling?· The wet winter days seemed at times unending.· His immune system failed, and he caught a never-ending series of viruses and infections.
a persistent problem or illness is not very serious but it continues to exist even though you try to get rid of it: · He has a persistent cough because of his smoking.· The country has suffered from persistent economic problems.
formal an unpleasant situation or feeling that is unrelenting continues for a long time without stopping: · The unrelenting pressures of the job started to affect her health.· The relief efforts have been hindered by unrelenting bad weather.· The unrelenting air attack on the country continued.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY There was still a nagging doubt in the back of her mind. Lee had a nagging pain in her back.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1making you worry or feel pain slightly all the timenagging feeling/doubt/suspicion etc There was still a nagging doubt in the back of her mind. Lee had a nagging pain in her back. (=one that does not go away)· I still had a nagging doubt that there might be something seriously wrong.
(=felt all the time)· Rob felt fine, apart from a nagging pain in his left wrist.
(=one that you have all the time)· I had a nagging suspicion that Colin wasn't telling me the whole truth.
(=one that you keep worrying about)· She had a little nagging worry in the back of her mind about how Mickey would react.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN· In everything he did there was a touch of charisma, and, following everything he did, a nagging doubt.· Her kinship with the respected Goldie apparently quells any nagging doubts.· The post-war years brought nagging doubts for Mary, when she was not surrounded by her now four healthy children.· Years of experience have left him with nagging doubts about the seemingly perfect customers.· Inside him there was a little nagging doubt.· That nagging doubt, the feeling that something was missing in the woman she was supposed to be.· Only a handful of nagging doubts remained, locked at the back of his mind and these soon seemed hazy and foolish.· This is always a nagging doubt about any survey-style research.
There was still a nagging doubt in the back of her mind. Lee had a nagging pain in her back.2always complaining: a nagging wife