Niggling

Relating to trivial details, often in a way that causes irritation or frustration; petty or bothersome. It often implies focusing on minor points, causing annoyance due to the attention given to insignificant matters. 'Niggling' can also describe a persistent feeling of unease or worry, particularly when the source is small or difficult to define. The term suggests something small and persistent that is nonetheless bothersome.

Niggling meaning with examples

• He spent the entire meeting addressing niggling grammatical errors in the report, completely missing the larger strategic issues which caused considerable frustration amongst the members who understood the importance of the meeting.
• A niggling doubt remained in her mind about whether she had locked the front door, making her reconsider whether she should turn back to check it before it was too late to do so.
• The project manager's insistence on addressing every single niggling detail caused delays and resentment within the team who had grown tired of waiting to get started.
• Despite the overall success of the event, a niggling feeling of dissatisfaction lingered, due to her belief that some people didn't receive the correct treatment.