niggle

• 动词，表示使人感到轻微但持续的烦恼、不适或不安，或指对小事故意挑剔、找茬。

A verb used to express the act of causing slight but persistent annoyance, discomfort, or worry, or to find fault with trivial matters.

1. Worry unnecessarilyC1informalbritish

   To cause slight but persistent worry or discomfort, often about minor details.

   为琐事烦恼

   • A small doubt niggled at the back of his mind.
   • She niggled over the wording of the email for hours.
   • The thought that he might have forgotten something niggled him all day.

   同义词annoybotherfretgnawirritatenagrankletroubleworry

   反义词comfortreassure

2. Argue over petty thingsC1informalbritish

   To find fault or argue about trivial matters.

   吹毛求疵

   • They spent the whole meeting niggling about the budget for office supplies.
   • Stop niggling over who gets the bigger slice of cake.
   • He tends to niggle about minor grammatical errors in casual conversation.

   同义词bickercarpcavilfussnitpickquibblesquabble

   反义词agreeconcede