Meaning & use

niggly

adjective·Advanced

Last updated

Slightly troublesome, irritating, or nagging, especially describing a minor pain, worry, or complaint; also, prone to fussing over trivial details.

See it in a sentence

He's been dealing with a niggly pain in his shoulder since the tournament.

She's a bit niggly about how the dishes are stacked in the cupboard.

A note on using this word

Niggly is chiefly British and Australian informal usage, closely related to the verb "niggle," meaning to cause slight but persistent annoyance.

Words with a similar meaning

naggingfussy

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

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