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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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!
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Heather Bushman, IndyStar, 1 Oct. 2025
Microsoft’s experiment started when the researchers wanted to demonstrate how AI could tackle the needle-in-a-haystack problem of finding useful new materials and chemicals.
—Andrew Moseman, IEEE Spectrum, 1 Oct. 2025
Brett Samuels, The Hill, 18 Aug. 2025
Trump at one point needled Zelenskyy over Ukraine delaying elections.
—Aamer Madhani, Fortune, 18 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for needle
Noun
How to get tickets For shoppers like Agresta, whether the needle ever scratches the grooves is beside the point.
—Heather Bushman, IndyStar, 1 Oct. 2025
Microsoft’s experiment started when the researchers wanted to demonstrate how AI could tackle the needle-in-a-haystack problem of finding useful new materials and chemicals.
—Andrew Moseman, IEEE Spectrum, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
The Ukrainian leader also wore more formal attire, something that did not go unnoticed by pro-Trump reporter Brian Glenn, who in February needled Zelensky for his lack of a suit.
—Brett Samuels, The Hill, 18 Aug. 2025
Trump at one point needled Zelenskyy over Ukraine delaying elections.
—Aamer Madhani, Fortune, 18 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for needle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for needle
Noun
-
This realistic doctor’s coat has everything your aspiring doctor needs to give their patients a check-up, including a face mask, a stethoscope with sound effects (AAA batteries not included), thermometer, syringe, reflex hammer, and reusable name tag.—
Katrina Cossey,
Parents,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Typically harvested from the thighs or abdomen via liposuction or a syringe, fat is gently purified and re-injected to restore volume and smooth wrinkles on the face, hands, and beyond.—
Elycia Rubin,
HollywoodReporter,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Generosity can be a surprisingly powerful economic indicator.—
Betty Lin-Fisher,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Practical perks add to the appeal—USB charging, a clear indicator light, and durable construction.—
Emily Glover,
Parents,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Jay Som is teasing her new album Belong (out Friday) with a song featuring Hayley Williams.—
Jonathan Bernstein,
Rolling Stone,
7 Oct. 2025
-
The creative teams tease what's ahead in 2026 from IDW Dark.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Stacey’s dogged dedication to existing in her truth is clearly going to grate further and further on the women as the season proceeds.—
Shamira Ibrahim,
Vulture,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Founded in 2000 by South Korean pastor David Jang, Olivet has been dogged by legal troubles for a decade and has denied all of the criminal and civil allegations against it.—
Naveed Jamali,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
If investor sentiment around AI sours, or if progress stalls owing to technological bottlenecks or supply constraints, equity prices could tumble—and, given the degree of market concentration, such an adjustment would ripple rapidly through broad market indices, affecting millions of investors.—
Jessica Coacci,
Fortune,
8 Oct. 2025
-
Tuesday's pullback broke the S & P 500's seven-session win streak, but the index was bouncing back thanks to a rebound in AI infrastructure and technology stocks.—
Jeff Marks,Paulina Likos,
CNBC,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Political fevers heightened with the near‑constant barrage of national cable news, usually spun by left‑ or right‑leaning media and amplified by taunting tweets.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Goldberg and Behar taunted producer Brian Teta for rushing the EGOT-winning actress along during a Hot Topics chat.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
David Rosenberg, founder of the economic and market insights firm Rosenberg Research, similarly highlighted flaws with the gauge, including the use of GDP, which includes government sector activity that isn’t tied to corporate profits or future earnings.—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
-
China's official gauge for manufacturing activity showed a smaller-than-expected contraction in September as Beijing intensified its efforts aimed at curbing industrial overcapacity amid sluggish domestic demand and global trade disruptions.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Amazon is really baiting us to breakup with our iPads by offering 50% off the newest generation of their Fire tablet.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Eusexua also is poised to be awards bait in a year when Swift is not competing, and saccharine pop doesn’t always impress the Grammys’ industry voters who choose nominees by committee.—
Shirley Halperin,
HollywoodReporter,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Needle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/needle. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share