Illustration of needle
- 1 suture
- 2 sewing
- 3 knitting
1
a
: a small slender usually steel instrument that has an eye for thread or surgical sutures at one end and that is used for sewing
b
: any of various devices for carrying thread and making stitches (as in crocheting or knitting)
c(1)
: a slender hollow instrument for introducing material into or removing material from the body (as by insertion under the skin)
(2)
: an extremely thin solid usually stainless steel instrument used in acupuncture and inserted through the skin
d
: any of various slender hollow devices used to introduce matter (such as air) into or remove it from an object (such as a ball)
2
a
: a slender bar of magnetized steel that when allowed to turn freely (as in a compass) indicates the direction of a magnetic field (as of the earth)
b
: a slender usually sharp-pointed indicator on a dial
3
a
: a slender pointed object resembling a needle: such as
(1)
: a pointed crystal
(2)
: a sharp rock
(3)
: obelisk
b
: a needle-shaped leaf (as of a conifer)
c
: a slender rod (as of jewel or steel) with a rounded tip used in a phonograph to transmit vibrations from a record : stylus
d
: a slender pointed rod controlling a fine inlet or outlet (as in a valve)
4
: a teasing or gibing remark
Examples of needle in a Sentence
Noun
I need a needle and thread to sew the button on your shirt.
The needle on the scale points to 9 grams.
The compass needle points north.
Verb
His classmates needled him about his new haircut.
we needled him mercilessly for thinking that he had any chance of being the prom date for the school's most popular girl
Recent Examples on the Web
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
27 June 2026
List the three decisions that move the needle and the one must-have outcome by Friday.
—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2026
Mary Clare Jalonick,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for needle
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.
Noun
The one large task moves the needle forward at a peak time in the day, the three medium tasks feel easier after accomplishing the first one, and the five small tasks are quick to check off the list as energy levels begin to dip.
—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
27 June 2026
List the three decisions that move the needle and the one must-have outcome by Friday.
—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2026
Verb
But as the November election draws closer and Republicans are trying to defend their majorities, Trump is instead needling Congress with his demands and reversals, driving several Republican senators to disparage his actions publicly for the first time.
—
Mary Clare Jalonick,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for needle
Cite this Entry
“Needle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/needle. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
needle
1 of 2 noun
nee·dle
ˈnēd-ᵊl 
1
a
: a small slender usually steel instrument that has an eye for thread or surgical sutures at one end and is used for sewing
b
: any of various devices for carrying thread and making stitches (as in crocheting or knitting)
c
: a slender hollow usually stainless steel instrument by which material is put into or taken from the body through the skin
d
: an extremely thin solid usually stainless steel instrument used in acupuncture and inserted through the skin
2
a
: a slender bar of magnetized steel that is free to turn (as in a compass) to show the direction of a magnetic field
b
: a slender pointer on a dial
3
a
: a slender pointed object (as a pointed crystal or an obelisk)
b
: a leaf (as of a pine) shaped like a needle
4
: a slender piece of jewel or steel with a rounded tip used in a phonograph to transmit vibrations from the record
needle
2 of 2 verb
needled; needling
ˈnēd-liŋ
-ᵊl-iŋ
2
: to cause to take action by repeated stinging remarks
Medical Definition
needle
1 of 2 noun
nee·dle
ˈnēd-ᵊl
1
: a small slender usually steel instrument designed to carry sutures when sewing tissues in surgery
2
: a slender hollow instrument for introducing material into or removing material from the body parenterally
needle
2 of 2 transitive verb
needled; needling
ˈnēd-liŋ, -ᵊl-iŋ
: to puncture, operate on, or inject with a needle
needling a cataract
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
