hassle

1 a brief clash between enemies or rivals the best way to avoid hassles with those aggressive panhandlers is to ignore them Synonyms brush, encounter, run-in, scrape, skirmishRelated Words argument, fight, quarrel, row, spat, squabble, tiff; battle, brawl, fray, wrangle

2 a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups the moment the police arrived, the hassle broke up, and no one was seriously injured Synonyms battle, clash, combat, conflict, contest, dustup, fracas, fray, fight, scrap, scrimmage, scrum, scuffle, skirmish, struggle, tussleRelated Words pitched battle, rough-and-tumble; affray [chiefly British], battle royal, brawl, broil, donnybrook, free-for-all, melee (also mêlée), mix-up, ruckus, ruction; blows, fistfight, fisticuffs, grapple, handgrips, punch-out, punch-up [chiefly British], slugfest; confrontation, duel, face-off, joust; altercation, argle-bargle [chiefly British], argument, argy-bargy [chiefly British], contretemps, controversy, cross fire, disagreement, dispute, falling-out, kickup, misunderstanding, quarrel, row, spat, squabble, tangle, tiff, wrangle; catfightNear Antonyms truce

3 an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions had a huge hassle with an airline representative before she got her ticket refunded Synonyms altercation, argle-bargle [chiefly British], argy-bargy [chiefly British], battle royal, bicker, brawl, contretemps, controversy, cross fire, disagreement, dispute, donnybrook, falling-out, fight, argument, imbroglio, kickup, misunderstanding, quarrel, rhubarb, row, scrap, set-to, spat, squabble, tiff, wrangleRelated Words clash, run-in, skirmish, tangle, tussle; logomachy; feud, vendetta; attack, contention, dissension (also dissention); debate, difference, disputation; fuss, objection, protest, protestation; affray [chiefly British], fisticuffs, fracas, fray, free-for-all, melee (also mêlée); catfight

4 something that is a source of irritation it's a hassle to find a parking space downtown Synonyms aggravation, aggro [British], bother, botheration, bugbear, exasperation, frustration, hair shirt, annoyance, headache, inconvenience, irk, irritant, nuisance, peeve, pest, rub, ruffle, thorn, trial, vexationRelated Words discomfort, fleabite, pinprick; affront, insult, offense (or offence); upset, worry; affliction, albatross, burden, cross, curse, menace, millstone, plague, sore; anxiety, plight, predicament, tribulation, trouble; hang-up, pet peeve, problem; annoyer, disturber, harasser, mischief, offender; pandora's boxNear Antonyms delight, joy, pleasure