NAGS Synonyms: 168 Similar and Opposite Words

nags 1 of 2

noun

plural of nag

as in horses

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

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nags

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of nag

as in urges

to subject (someone) to constant scoldings and sharp reminders she kept nagging him to fix the furnace before the weather got any colder

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in complains

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

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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 nags

Noun

Microsoft has also tried to upsell its OneDrive cloud storage with constant nags in Windows 11. — Tom Warren, The Verge, 29 Jan. 2026 Meanwhile, Microsoft is upping the pressure on users to move to Windows 11, with new nags that seemingly won’t stop. — Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025

Verb

On weekends, Nelson calls to make sure French has gotten up from bed and nags her to eat. — ABC News, 31 July 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for nags

Noun

An unmounted horse galloping into a ranch, saddle empty and reins flying, is a standard cue for horse people to seek the rider.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2026
At right, the couple now must bring in 55 gallons of water every day for their two horses and about 50 gallons a month for their own drinking, cooking and cleaning.

— Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of horses

Verb

Changes in Water Pressure Ragsdale’s antenna immediately goes up when a homeowner complains about low water pressure.

— Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 20 Aug. 2026
Shannon basically complains so much that Jenn, a sweet baby angel straight from a Hallmark Christmas movie, offers to change rooms with her.

— Brian Moylan, Vulture, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of complains

Verb

But this begs the parallel question of what the current museum architecture arises from and reflects, and why the oceanic and the oligarchic logics of the museum’s reformation now travel together here.

— George Baker, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026
Petticrew dressed like present-day Catherine in the flashback scene as Isabel begs her to inject her with heroin.

— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of begs

Verb

Otherwise, there’s definitely a family-friendly element to the hotel (the whole storybook feel screams childhood), though the food options may be a little bit advanced for a kids’ palate.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Aug. 2026
When Cantu reaches towards Lopez and screams his wife’s name, a shot rings out and Lopez falls slightly off camera.

— Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of screams

Verb

That sequencing bothers people who’ve spent careers being told that data systems need privacy protections designed in, not bolted on after a scandal.

— Karl W. Bickel, Baltimore Sun, 25 Aug. 2026
Kurt's key takeaways What bothers me most about this scam is that criminals are going after people who may have the fewest options to protect themselves.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of bothers

Verb

At one point, when Reagan suggests sharing missile-defense technology, Gorbachev stands up and whines about how America will not even share dairy technology so that the Soviets can provide milk to their children.

— Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2026
The snippet ends just as the cat whines and tucks its head beneath the barrier, not far from the officer filming the scene.

— Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 13 July 2026

Definition of whines

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nagging

nags

naiad

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“Nags.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nags. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of nags

noun

verb

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