nag

1 of 3

verb

nagged; nagging

transitive verb

1
: to irritate by constant scolding or urging
2

intransitive verb

1
: to find fault incessantly : complain
2
: to be a persistent source of annoyance or distraction
nagger noun

nag

2 of 3

noun (1)

: one who nags habitually

nag

3 of 3

noun (2)

: horse
especially : one that is old or in poor condition

Examples of nag in a Sentence

Verb Mom's always nagging me about my hair. All you ever do is nag. My parents are always nagging me to clean my room. He kept nagging her until she agreed to see the movie. Quit nagging! I already said I'm not going. Noun (2) a poor farmer who could only afford one old nag
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Because in the minds of most observers nagged the question - what now? Melik Kaylan, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024 The mid-season Africa Cup of Nations and nagging fitness issues were also factors. Anantaajith Raghuraman, The Athletic, 31 July 2024
Noun
Microsoft is now helping drive PC sales, interrupting users with nags to upgrade their systems before Windows 10 support expires. Zak Doffman, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2024 But the low point is its treatment of its female characters, who are painted as irritating, know-it-all nags who just get in the way of a good time. Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 18 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for nag 

Word History

Etymology

Verb

probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse nagga to moan, complain

Noun (2)

Middle English nagge; akin to Dutch negge small horse

First Known Use

Verb

circa 1828, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun (1)

1925, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nag was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near nag

Cite this Entry

“Nag.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nag. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

nag

1 of 3 noun
: horse entry 1 sense 1a
especially : a horse that is old and in poor condition

nag

2 of 3 verb
nagged; nagging
1
: to annoy by repeated faultfinding, scolding, or urging
kept nagging me to let her come
always nags him to clean his room
2
: to cause (someone) to feel annoyed or worried for a long period of time
a problem that nagged at her
nagger noun

nag

3 of 3 noun
: a person who frequently nags
Etymology

Noun

Middle English nagge "horse"

Verb

probably of Scandinavian origin

More from Merriam-Webster on nag

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!