as in horse
a large hoofed domestic animal that is used for carrying or drawing loads and for riding
a poor farmer who could only afford one old nag
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in to urge
to subject (someone) to constant scoldings and sharp reminders
she kept nagging him to fix the furnace before the weather got any colder
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to complain
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely
if all you can do is nag, then you are of no use to this organization at all
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of nag
Chris Willman, Variety, 28 June 2024
Still, the question suggested by the book’s title nags: What should economists and policymakers have learned from the crisis and its aftermath?
—Alan S. Blinder, Foreign Affairs, 16 Feb. 2015
Jason Evangelho, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
In the back half of the regular season, red zone woes nagged a Texas offense with the talent to be one of the nation’s best.
—Sam Khan Jr., The Athletic, 22 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for nag 
Noun
In the earliest and most predictable part of the show, the half-dozen Thoughts are a chorus line of nags operating from a hive mind of self-hostility.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 28 June 2024
Still, the question suggested by the book’s title nags: What should economists and policymakers have learned from the crisis and its aftermath?
—Alan S. Blinder, Foreign Affairs, 16 Feb. 2015
Verb
The biggest offender is McAfee, which will nag you repeatedly after the short trial expires.
—Jason Evangelho, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
In the back half of the regular season, red zone woes nagged a Texas offense with the talent to be one of the nation’s best.
—Sam Khan Jr., The Athletic, 22 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for nag
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nag
Noun
-
The gale had grown so strong that the horses and Jigsaw staff struggled to stay upright, and with limited trailers, only four horses could be evacuated at a time.—
Charisma Madarang,
Rolling Stone,
27 Jan. 2025
-
The little horse seizes the opportunity to help and leaps out of their enclosure to push the keg to its delivery location.—
Kelli Bender,
People.com,
27 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Perry urges that there needs to be a strong and unrelenting response to these attacks, something Democrats haven’t been doing with nearly enough force.—
Brea Baker,
refinery29.com,
3 Feb. 2025
-
In the first days of his second term, Trump also signed the Laken Riley Act, which urges immigration officers to detain unauthorized immigrants when arrested for crimes like burglary, theft, larceny, and shoplifting or assaulting a law enforcement officer.—
Taylor Ardrey,
USA TODAY,
3 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Palestinians complain of ill-treatment In exchange for the hostages' release, Israel is freeing 183 Palestinian prisoners, some convicted of involvement in attacks that killed dozens of people, as well as 111 detained in Gaza during the war.—
Hussam al-Masri,
USA TODAY,
10 Feb. 2025
-
Many conspiracy theorists have complained about Black history being relegated to the calendar’s shortest month.—
Leonard Greene,
New York Daily News,
9 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
The shooting led to outrage in the East Colfax community with friends and residents begging the Denver Police Department and city officials to do something about crime in the neighborhood.—
Noelle Phillips,
The Denver Post,
6 Feb. 2025
-
For nearly a decade, District 79 officials waged a public relations battle, begging at the ballot box for taxpayers to approve a bond-issue referendum.—
Jesse Wright,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Read Next National Deputies rush to save screaming kids trapped outside burning Colorado home.—
Daniella Segura,
Sacramento Bee,
29 Jan. 2025
-
While being average maybe does not quite scream iconic Survivor player at full volume, perhaps that is exactly the point.—
Dalton Ross,
EW.com,
29 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
The devil will persist in bothering Martin Luther until the bald-headed monk dispatches him by hurling a bottle of ink.—
Contributed Content,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2025
-
Imagine if the press covered all of that without bothering to even question it.—
Jeremy Gruber,
New York Daily News,
6 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Walter Lippmann in Public Opinion whines about this.—
Sean Illing,
Vox,
1 Feb. 2025
-
The only way to fix this information eco system is to stop whining about the various ways the social media companies are manipulating things and instead roll up our collective sleeves and start with local.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
31 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
The peninsula served as a main hub for the Black Sea Fleet, but dogged Ukrainian strikes have forced Russia to relocate high-value assets like warships and submarines further east in the Black Sea over the course of the war.—
Ellie Cook,
Newsweek,
2 Feb. 2025
-
Of course, there is a little awkwardness in seeking to convince entertainers that AI is the solution to the AI woes that have dogged the creative landscape in recent years.—
Miles Klee,
Rolling Stone,
27 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near nag
Cite this Entry
“Nag.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nag. Accessed 13 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share