hassle

1 of 2

noun

has·​sle ˈha-səl 

1

: a heated often protracted argument : wrangle

… embroiling myself in a long, exasperating hassle with masons …

—S. J. Perelman

2

: a violent skirmish : fight

3

a

: a state of confusion : turmoil

… all hassle and hurly-burly …

—Ellery Queen

b

: an annoying or troublesome concern

avoid the hassle of filling out paperwork

flight delays and other hassles of holiday travel

too much of a hassle to bother with

hassle

2 of 2

verb

hassled; hassling ˈha-s(ə-)liŋ 

intransitive verb

: argue, fight

hassled with the umpire

transitive verb

: to annoy persistently or acutely : harass

gets hassled by the cops

Synonyms of hassle

Noun

• encounter

Verb

• taunt
• tease
• bother
• mock

Examples of hassle in a Sentence

Noun

All this paperwork is a hassle.

They've had to deal with flight delays and all of the other hassles of holiday travel.

He got into a hassle with his landlord.

Verb

Other kids were always hassling her because she was overweight.

I'm sick of being hassled by telemarketers.

I don't have time to hassle with you about this! Just do what I tell you to do!

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

And the hassle of waiting way too long at the bridge, trying to get back and forth from the mainland to the barrier island. —Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2026

But more than the room itself, the Yacht Club experience provided serenity, service and hassle-free cruising. —Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Mar. 2026

Verb

Many officials hassle developers into paying extra to upgrade nearby intersections, setting aside land for parks, or making ad hoc contributions to various local funds. —M. Nolan Gray, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026

The wife hassles him, also using obscenities. —Gwen Faulkenberry, Arkansas Online, 15 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

perhaps blend of harass and hustle

First Known Use

Noun

1945, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1951, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for hassle

• castle
• facile
• gracile
• hassall
• passel
• tassel
• vassal
• fluorouracil
• thiouracil
• forecastle
• uracil
• propylthiouracil

Kids Definition

hassle

1 of 2 verb

has·​sle ˈhas-əl 

hassled; hassling

-(ə-)liŋ

1

: argue sense 2, dispute

hassled with the umpire

2

: to annoy continuously : harass

hassle

2 of 2 noun

1

: argument sense 2

2

: fight entry 2 sense 1a

3

: something that is annoying or troublesome