needle 1 of 2

noun

ˈnē-dᵊl How to pronounce needle (audio)
Definition of needlenext
1
as in syringe
a slender hollow instrument by which material is put into or taken from the body through the skin the nurse inserted the needle into his vein and collected some blood for testing

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in indicator
an arrow-shaped piece on a dial or scale for registering information simply by reading the compass needle you should be able to figure out in which direction we're heading

Synonyms & Similar Words

needle

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to tease
to attack repeatedly with mean put-downs or insults we needled him mercilessly for thinking that he had any chance of being the prom date for the school's most popular girl

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2
as in to dog
to subject (someone) to constant scoldings and sharp reminders quit needling me! I'll take out the trash in a minute!

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 needle
Noun
Finally, half of the people struggled with how to engage the safety features on the needles and properly dispose of them. — C. Michael White, The Conversation, 7 Aug. 2026 For an executive tasked with anticipating and responding to climate policy, the regulatory patchwork within the United States has created a tiny needle to thread. — Justin Worland, Time, 7 Aug. 2026
Verb
By contrast, Trump is being needled almost weekly by Tillis and other GOP senators whose chattiness with the press has drawn the ire of the president. — David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 31 May 2026 Local billionaire and Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince has needled Katz to sell him the mountain, saying that Vail’s roll-up model has led to a worse experience. — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 26 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for needle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for needle
  1. syringe
  2. indicator
  3. tease
  4. dog
  5. index
  6. taunt
  7. urge
  8. bait
Noun
  • Catherine flattens him in the kitchen, burying her death syringe in his eyeball.
    — Erin Qualey, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Several struggled to get rid of large air bubbles in the syringe, which can cause injection site irritation and make dosing inaccurate.
    — C. Michael White, The Conversation, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of syringe
Noun
  • As of Friday's close, the Index is 41% above Worth's favorite indicator, the 150-day moving average.
    — Michael Khouw, CNBC, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Track one leading indicator, one outcome indicator and one balancing indicator.
    — Thomas Lim, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of indicator
Verb
  • The duo took to the stage during the event and addressed the crowd in character to tease the plot of the upcoming sequel, per USA Today.
    — Meg Walters, InStyle, 15 Aug. 2026
  • The film also stars Sadie Sink, who attended Disney’s D23 fan celebration Friday as the studio teased its X-Men plans.
    — Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of tease
Verb
  • But in recent years it has been dogged by questions about its culture, approach to complaints handling, and use of non-disclosure agreements.
    — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The moves come as 311 has received nearly 3,000 complaints related to dog waste citywide so far this year, including a significant spike after the lengthy, lingering snow pileups this winter.
    — Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of dog
Noun
  • On the economic front, investors will be watching for the August Empire State manufacturing index, as well as the NAHB Housing Market Index for August.
    — Lee Ying Shan,Sarah Min, CNBC, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Liquids are lower in nitrogen and low on the salt index, so there’s less risk of burning.
    — Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of index
Verb
  • His gruff mechanic Cooter Davenport is introduced as a hell-raising, uncouth wild man, constantly taunting the authorities and flouting convention.
    — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The woman is then shown on the ground as the person behind the camera continues to taunt her and appears to strike her again.
    — Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of taunt
Verb
  • In the filing, the Justice Department urged the appeals court to reverse the Tennessee federal judge’s ruling dismissing criminal charges against Abrego Garcia.
    — Siladitya Ray, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Anyone who can provide a tip in connection with Standish is urged to call 651-438-8477 or fill out a form on the sheriff's office website.
    — Nicholas Lentz, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of urge
Verb
  • Specialty carp baits and tackle drive a large portion of the European recreational fishing industries sales.
    — Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 13 Aug. 2026
  • In our testing, a paper-funnel trap baited with overripe fruit and fruit-forward vinegar consistently caught the most flies.
    — Emma Jacobson, Bon Appetit Magazine, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of bait

Phrases Containing needle

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needing
needle
needled
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Cite this Entry

“Needle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/needle. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on needle

Nglish: Translation of needle for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about needle

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