nag

Imagine your little brother asking for a new video game again and again, not just once or twice, but so often that it starts to wear you down. That is what it means to nag. To nag someone is to keep bothering them with the same questions, requests, or complaints. It is more than a simple reminder; it feels pushy and annoying. A parent might nag a child about cleaning their room, or a friend might nag someone to finish a project. Even when the intention is good, it usually feels frustrating and unwelcome.

To nag means to keep bothering someone by asking for something again and again, complaining repeatedly, or giving unwanted reminders or advice. It is more than making one simple request. The idea is that the behavior happens so often that it starts to annoy the other person. The word is usually negative because it suggests pressure, repetition, and irritation.

You will often hear it in everyday situations and close relationships. A parent may nag a child to do homework, a husband may say his wife nags him about the trash, or a friend may nag you to reply to a message. In each case, the main idea is the same: the person does not stop, and that repeated pressure becomes annoying.

Sometimes the line between reminding and nagging depends on how it feels to the listener. One person may think they are being helpful, while the other feels bothered by hearing the same thing over and over. That is why the word often carries a sense of unfair pressure, even when the speaker thinks they have a good reason.

The key part of this word is repetition. If someone keeps pushing, reminding, or complaining until your patience starts to fade, this word probably fits.