needles 1 of 2

noun

plural of needle
1
as in syringes
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 indicators
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

needles

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of needle
1
as in teases
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

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in dogs
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 needles
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 At the heart of CipherX's technology is a small patch filled with hundreds of microscopic biodegradable needles, each preloaded with pigment. — Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 6 Aug. 2026 Addicts could bring their heroin and cocaine to a 13-seat center where staff dispensed needles, swabs, and sterile water to cook the drugs and offered advice on vein maintenance. — Michael Powell, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026 Inside, sunlight spills onto the tables where embroiderers sit, their needles dancing in near silence across stretches of fabric. — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 30 July 2026 Doctors call this paresthesia, a catch-all term for the pins-and-needles feeling that arises when normal nerve signaling gets disrupted. — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026 Unlike traditional microneedling, which uses metal needles inserted and withdrawn, spicules embed superficially and shed with normal skin turnover over a few days. — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 27 July 2026 Track three scuttles atop a bed of pine needles and broken eggshells, a nervous, almost dubsteppy rhythm haloed in Four Tet’s characteristic bell tones. — Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 18 July 2026 The dense evergreen cover provides shelter, the soft needles nesting material, and the seed-bearing cones give food for a variety of bird species. — Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 July 2026
Verb
McDaniel needles the other side of the ball too, James said, warning defenders to be ready for a deep pass before hitting them with a quick out. — Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026 The Velvet Gang needles the outraged Christie ever so. — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 19 May 2026 As Thea’s former suitor, Tesman struggles to call her by her married name, a slip of the tongue that Hedda constantly needles him about. — Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026 Jake needles Harry about the past 50 years, but Harry can only offer scraps of history. — Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for needles
  1. indicators
  2. teases
  3. dogs
  4. indexes
  5. taunts
  6. urges
  7. hands
  8. baits
Noun
  • Accessibility Offering dedicated rooms for those with limited mobility, elevator access to all floors, and specialized light indicators on room numbers and in-room telephones, the property prides itself on being accessibility-friendly.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Aug. 2026
  • National indicators can be used by state and local governments as well.
    — Steve H. Hanke, Fortune, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of indicators
Verb
  • The final episode's preview teases an all-out war between the Targaryens and Hightowers, as well as shocking betrayals that are sure to shake up the series.
    — Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Watch the trailer, which teases an intergalactic and perhaps inter-dimensional mission.
    — Katie Campione, Deadline, 25 July 2026
Definition of teases
Verb
  • This spring, Anthropic let the robot dogs out again, but this time, an improved Claude worked alone.
    — Harry Booth, Time, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Canine transmissible venereal tumor, or CTVT, is a genital cancer that dogs pass to one another during mating.
    — John Drake, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
Definition of dogs
Noun
  • Equity indices are near highs, credit spreads are tight, and the consensus economic forecast still describes a soft landing that has already landed.
    — Jason Kirsch, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • After a 20% rally year-to-date that's ahead of both the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq 100, Russell 2000 volatility declined the most among the benchmark indexes last week to below 17, a 2nd percentile low in the past five years, according to Cboe.
    — Oliver Renick, CNBC, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of indexes
Verb
  • Trump routinely mocks Newsom and refers to the governor using a derogatory nickname, while Newsom taunts the president with frequent social media posts.
    — Darlene Superville, Fortune, 4 Aug. 2026
  • On the bridge, Sam taunts his brother before getting sucked out a hole in the observation window, graphically.
    — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 30 July 2026
Definition of taunts
Verb
  • The two argue about Essex’s goals, and Sabretooth urges Wolverine to usurp Essex and take control of the team himself.
    — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026
  • If sleep problems persist, Johns Hopkins urges people to see a doctor rather than let the issue linger.
    — Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of urges
Noun
  • Barron, last year’s first-round pick, nearly had a second interception minutes later, but the ball squirted through his hands.
    — Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
  • On the flight after the impromptu stop, Yeltsin sat motionless with his head in his hands, considering the bare shelves of Soviet food markets.
    — Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of hands
Verb
  • Specialty carp baits and tackle drive a large portion of the European recreational fishing industries sales.
    — Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Officials will continue to investigate the area for further evidence of poison bait, and also stressed the importance of the community's cooperation to discourage and prevent the use of poison baits against wildlife.
    — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 2026
Definition of baits

Phrases Containing needles

Browse Nearby Words

needlers
needles
needless
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Cite this Entry

“Needles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/needles. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of needles for Spanish Speakers

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