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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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
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Recent Examples of needle
Margaux Anbouba, Vogue, 24 Sep. 2025
Adding another $100,000 to bring on a skilled worker doesn’t move the needle for them.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 24 Sep. 2025
Aamer Madhani, Fortune, 18 Aug. 2025
Kahn, an immigrant from Laos who loves to needle Hank for being a hillbilly, was voiced by a white actor, Toby Huss, during King of the Hill’s original Fox run, which ended in 2009.
—Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for needle
Noun
Added a top coat, then used a needle-nose diamond drill bit to do the split.
—Margaux Anbouba, Vogue, 24 Sep. 2025
Adding another $100,000 to bring on a skilled worker doesn’t move the needle for them.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 24 Sep. 2025
Verb
Trump at one point needled Zelenskyy over Ukraine delaying elections.
—Aamer Madhani, Fortune, 18 Aug. 2025
Kahn, an immigrant from Laos who loves to needle Hank for being a hillbilly, was voiced by a white actor, Toby Huss, during King of the Hill’s original Fox run, which ended in 2009.
—Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for needle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for needle
Noun
-
Alex breaks free and, in a panic, repeatedly stabs Evelyn with the syringe.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 Sep. 2025
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Prosecutors say hospital security footage captured Craig with the syringe in his hand moments before this final act.—
Doc Louallen,
ABC News,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Some waffle irons will indicate when the waffle is ready, but if your waffle iron doesn’t have an indicator, check for doneness when the steam subsides.—
Robin Miller,
AZCentral.com,
25 Sep. 2025
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Emptying the dust cup was simple thanks to clear arrow indicators, although detaching it from the wand first added a small inconvenience.—
Toni Sutton,
PEOPLE,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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PopUp bagels just opened a shop in Tampa, Florida, and recently teased plans to open one in Atlanta, Georgia, by year’s end.—
Tanasia Kenney,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Sep. 2025
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The singer teased that her daughter may be ready to step out on her own and start her own career in the music industry.—
Kayla Grant,
PEOPLE,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The lawmaker said Trump doesn’t like bad headlines and negative media coverage, something that has dogged Kennedy since his Senate confirmation proceedings.—
Alexander Bolton,
The Hill,
24 Sep. 2025
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According to the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior, dogs that suddenly bolt are often acting on instinct rather than misbehaving.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Spain’s largest company by market capitalization, Inditex, helped buoy that index, after better-than-expected earnings helped its stock to claw back some of its losses for the year.—
Jordan Butt,
CNBC,
1 Oct. 2025
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Both indexes are measures against a 100-point benchmark recorded in 1985.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Rutgers quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis was relishing in his return to Minnesota, taunting the Gophers’ student section after his second touchdown pass on Saturday afternoon.—
Andy Greder,
Twin Cities,
29 Sep. 2025
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During the game in the first quarter, DeJean was called for an unsportsmanlike penalty for taunting.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The growth of its factory output and retail sales, a gauge of the country’s manufacturing health and consumption, fell to a 12-month low and a 9-month low, respectively, according to figures released by China’s National Bureau of Statistics.—
John Liu,
CNN Money,
24 Sep. 2025
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The dress is made from a fine-gauge knit that offers warmth without feeling bulky, which is essential for fluctuating weather.—
Rachel Trujillo,
Travel + Leisure,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The objectionable programs in that case were not the Republican-baiting precincts of late-night television but the social taboo-breaking entertainments of Three’s Company, All in the Family and Knots Landing.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Sep. 2025
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But its captain learned nothing from his passengers, the main reason being that the captain did not have a chance to bait hooks.—
Eric DuVall,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Needle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/needle. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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