as in to complain
to make often peevish criticisms or objections about matters that are minor, unimportant, or irrelevant
you know it drives me crazy when you niggle like that
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in quibble
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in qualm
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of niggle
Elias Burke, The Athletic, 21 Aug. 2024
At first, the directive seemed plausible, even though the voice message left me with a niggling doubt.
—Pankaj Vasani, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024
Jordan Campbell, The Athletic, 22 Nov. 2024
When the lineup had to be rotated to rest players nursing niggles, backups slotted in with virtually no noticeable decline in team play.
—Kyle Foley, Orlando Sentinel, 7 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for niggle
Verb
He’s also had several niggling injuries since leaving his homeland five years ago.
—Elias Burke, The Athletic, 21 Aug. 2024
At first, the directive seemed plausible, even though the voice message left me with a niggling doubt.
—Pankaj Vasani, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024
Noun
But Timber has also suffered a couple of niggles that saw Thomas Partey shifted to right back.
—Jordan Campbell, The Athletic, 22 Nov. 2024
When the lineup had to be rotated to rest players nursing niggles, backups slotted in with virtually no noticeable decline in team play.
—Kyle Foley, Orlando Sentinel, 7 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for niggle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for niggle
Verb
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Patterson complained about her in-laws behind their backs Erin and Simon Patterson got married in 2007 and, after splitting and reconciling multiple times over the years, separated permanently in 2015.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
7 June 2025
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Occasionally, drivers call the CHP to complain — especially during rush hour.—
Tina Li,
Sacbee.com,
7 June 2025
Noun
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The new camera setup alongside a bigger screen answers two of the most prominent quibbles Samsung users have voiced about its foldable phones.—
Janhoi McGregor,
Forbes.com,
5 June 2025
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Send your wine questions and quibbles to sethebarlowwine@gmail.com Support journalism that digs deeper into topics that matter most to Arkansans.—
Seth Eli Barlow,
Arkansas Online,
27 May 2025
Noun
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And anyway he’s got his qualms about being compared too directly to the likes of Willie and Waylon.—
Tribune News Service,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 June 2025
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There’s also the qualm that once the world realizes AGI has been achieved, perhaps mass panic will arise, or evildoers will seek to turn AGI toward global extinction.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2025
Verb
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Throughout the footage, Leah, from Fort Worth, Texas, can be seen fussing Lunch Box and fawning over her sweet foster pup.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 May 2025
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The baby occasionally fussed, and Khalil turned around and smiled at his wife and son.—
Chloe Atkins,
NBC news,
23 May 2025
Noun
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In Los Angeles, Trump took the unusual step of nationalizing units of the California National Guard and also sent in U.S. Marines over the objections of Gavin Newsom, the state's Democratic governor.—
David Folkenflik,
NPR,
16 June 2025
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Protests erupted across the U.S., most notably in Los Angeles, where Trump federalized 4,000 National Guard members and sent in 700 Marines over the objections of state and local officials.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
16 June 2025
Noun
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Interestingly, the inability to get out of the chair is not a strength issue, and tremors do not cause the decline in handwriting.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
23 May 2025
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The same goes for equipment that monitors earth tremors before volcanoes erupt.—
Ella Nilsen,
CNN Money,
20 May 2025
Verb
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Each new video only gave viewers more to nitpick over.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
20 May 2025
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The reason that Chernow’s failure to take cognizance of the steamboat Arago seems problematic enough to nitpick has nothing to do with the business of the pen name, which Chernow does discuss.—
John Jeremiah Sullivan,
Harpers Magazine,
29 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Republican legislators have long accused the Democratic majority of infringing on the Second Amendment right to bear arms through laws such as the 2023 assault weapons ban, which remains under court challenge.—
Jeremy Gorner,
Chicago Tribune,
14 June 2025
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This disorder is caused by insufficient calcium as a result of nutrient and water management challenges.—
Nora Doonan,
Hartford Courant,
14 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Niggle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/niggle. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
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