Library / English Dictionary

NIGGLE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Argue over petty things

Example:

Let's not quibble over pennies

Synonyms:

bicker; brabble; niggle; pettifog; quibble; squabble

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "niggle" is one way to...):

argue; contend; debate; fence (have an argument about something)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

niggler (someone who constantly criticizes in a petty way)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Worry unnecessarily or excessively

Example:

don't fuss too much over the grandchildren--they are quite big now

Synonyms:

fret; fuss; niggle

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Hypernyms (to "niggle" is one way to...):

worry (be worried, concerned, anxious, troubled, or uneasy)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "niggle"):

scruple (raise scruples)

dither; flap; pother (make a fuss; be agitated)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Sentence example:

Sam and Sue niggle over the results of the experiment

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