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

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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
Save your energy for the conversations and ideas that actually move the needle. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 20 July 2026 Threading that needle could force Burnham to make politically unpalatable choices. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 19 July 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
  • With a catheter inserted into a vein, intravenous tubing fitted and a syringe pump loaded and primed, the subject waits as the bed retracts until his brain is centered within the great coils of an MRI machine calibrated to map altered brain states.
    — Charles Moss, SPIN, 16 July 2026
  • Because Renuva’s maximum syringe size is just 3ccs, it was commonly used in smaller areas like the hands, face and neck, whereas the largest syringe of alloClae can hold around 22cc of more product.
    — Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 13 July 2026
Definition of syringe
Noun
  • The borrow fee rate—the broker’s annualized overnight fee for lending shares to short sellers—can serve as an intraday indicator of short interest rates.
    — David Capablanca, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
  • On the positive side, this news can be considered another indicator of the insatiable demand for AI and the infrastructure needed to power it.
    — Zev Fima, CNBC, 27 July 2026
Definition of indicator
Verb
  • During the panel, del Toro teased a documentary that explores the process of creating the original film, which features appearances and commentary from Jacob Elordi, Cate Blanchett and Charlie Day.
    — Tanya Fedak, Variety, 25 July 2026
  • Watch the trailer, which teases an intergalactic and perhaps inter-dimensional mission.
    — Katie Campione, Deadline, 25 July 2026
Definition of tease
Verb
  • Even as its quality of play has improved dramatically over the years, MLS is still dogged by a reputation for being a tier or two below Europe's domestic leagues.
    — Becky Sullivan, NPR, 19 July 2026
  • The duo are forced on the run across Europe, dogged by their past, and successfully get themselves out of danger.
    — Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2026
Definition of dog
Noun
  • After bottoming out in October 2002 following the dot-com bust, the index took nearly five years to climb back to a new high in 2007 — a high that didn't even hold, as the Great Recession erased it almost immediately.
    — Kevin Williams, CNBC, 26 July 2026
  • But the heat index — a measure of what the weather feels like, especially when humid — may reach 102, potentially prompting heat advisories.
    — Taylor Croft, AJC.com, 26 July 2026
Definition of index
Verb
  • Pfister taunted them as his wife ridiculed them for trying to cover their windows.
    — Kyung Lah, CNN Money, 25 July 2026
  • Cooper also testified that members of the attacking group taunted Drakeo during the confrontation.
    — Dave Brooks, Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2026
Definition of taunt
Verb
  • Despite impressive demonstrations, a true, self-improving AI beyond human control remains unproven, urging leaders to distinguish current capabilities from future forecasts.
    — Robert J. Szczerba, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
  • Meanwhile, Éléonore Caroit, France’s minister for international partnerships, urged tourists not to cancel their holiday plans and emphasized that most of the country remains untouched.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 28 July 2026
Definition of urge
Verb
  • Beasley had been baiting Preston’s jumper all night and playing mind games with other JHX Hoops members in between game action.
    — Latif Love July 23, Kansas City Star, 23 July 2026
  • While the competition ignited the box office in a world-class example of counterprogramming, the move was seen as baiting and antagonizing the director.
    — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 21 July 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 30 Jul. 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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