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
Scott Tobias, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2025
Darius Dotch has been invariably impressive on area stages over the past several years, but he’s handicapped by Shider making Hines’ husband a one-note nag.
—Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 22 Sep. 2025
Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 26 Jan. 2026
The two nagging exceptions revolve around Epstein and affordability.
—Steven Sloan, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nag
Noun
But in the final moments, when Carol is back in her coach seat on the plane, something nags at her.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2025
Darius Dotch has been invariably impressive on area stages over the past several years, but he’s handicapped by Shider making Hines’ husband a one-note nag.
—Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 22 Sep. 2025
Verb
Seek’s application for potassium permanganate solves a nagging issue for the denim industry, but the flexibility of the organic bleaching system is wide reaching.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 26 Jan. 2026
The two nagging exceptions revolve around Epstein and affordability.
—Steven Sloan, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nag
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nag
Noun
-
Think of Cathy wandering the moors in Wuthering Heights, or Kate Sharma from Bridgerton riding her horse in the rain, before [redacted].—
Jesa Marie Calaor,
Allure,
10 Feb. 2026
-
In the final draft, the girls found their missing horses had not, in fact, been taken but had simply…escaped from their pasture.—
Alexandra Romanoff,
Vogue,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Lake County Council passed a resolution Tuesday to urge the state legislature to pass a bill to disclose the specific fees hidden in utility bill delivery charges.—
Alexandra Kukulka,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
-
As an example, Raskin pointed to the Justice Department’s failed attempt to indict six Democratic lawmakers who urged service members to not comply with unlawful orders in a video posted in November.—
Ana Ceballos,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The building was in the neighborhood of Bab Tabbaneh, one of the poorest areas in Lebanon’s second-largest city, where residents have long complained of government neglect and shoddy infrastructure.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Other conservatives have also complained about Bad Bunny performing in Spanish.—
Joseph Wilkinson,
New York Daily News,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
First there was Norwegian’s Sturla Holm Lægreid confessing to cheating on his girlfriend during a live interview after winning the bronze medal and tearfully begging her to come back (shockingly, humiliating his ex on national television didn’t work).—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Feb. 2026
-
The current crop, by contrast, has been begging visitors to crawl back into the light.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The work that doesn’t scream the loudest internally but decides who wins externally.—
Erik Huberman,
Rolling Stone,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Vonn was heard screaming in pain while lying in the snow before she was airlifted off the course.—
Rohan Nadkarni,
NBC news,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Andrew Musgrave crossed the finish line in cross-country skiing today in a tank top, and the cold didn’t seem to bother him one bit.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
13 Feb. 2026
-
My damp clothes didn’t bother either one of us.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But students who are spending their time protesting, whining about the grading system and seeking easy classes don’t seem to fit that mold.—
Mitch Zimmer,
Washington Post,
3 Feb. 2026
-
The children jumped for joy after winning a game of cornhole; others fell and whined in defeat, but got up to play again.—
Christopher Buchanan,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The singer was dogged in his pursuit of the anthem assignment.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Her popularity comes even as much of the public remains skeptical of her party, which has been dogged by scandals and suffered two embarrassing parliamentary election losses in the last two years.—
Freddie Clayton,
NBC news,
8 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nag.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nag. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
