hassle 1 of 2

noun

ˈha-səl How to pronounce hassle (audio)
Definition of hasslenext
1
as in encounter
a brief clash between enemies or rivals the best way to avoid hassles with those aggressive panhandlers is to ignore them

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2
as in clash
a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups the moment the police arrived, the hassle broke up, and no one was seriously injured

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in dispute
an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions had a huge hassle with an airline representative before she got her ticket refunded

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4
as in headache
something that is a source of irritation it's a hassle to find a parking space downtown

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hassle

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to taunt
to attack repeatedly with mean put-downs or insults a small group of jeering protesters hassled the politically active singer at every appearance she made

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2
as in to bicker
to express different opinions about something often angrily constantly hassled with the chef over the need to cook pork thoroughly

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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 hassle
Noun
Keep your watch well maintained to avoid the hassle of repairs. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 17 Aug. 2026 To avoid the hassle of fair use, independent production teams often spend three, sometimes four times as much money on license fees for the same image or clip as high-budget projects commissioned by high-volume licensees like Netflix, HBO or Apple. — Addie Morfoot, IndieWire, 14 Aug. 2026
Verb
Karl is there to hassle her about taking the Boise deal, and Paula stands firm. — Erin Qualey, Vulture, 29 May 2026 Back in the late ’90s and early 2000s, skateboarding was a counterculture sport; enthusiasts hassled in streets and parking lots with few safe places to shred. — Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 8 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for hassle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hassle
  1. encounter
  2. clash
  3. dispute
  4. headache
  5. taunt
  6. bicker
  7. skirmish
  8. controversy
Noun
  • Pasadena residents are upset after a bloodied peacock was found in their neighborhood last week after what appeared to be a violent encounter with a mail carrier.
    — Nicole Comstock, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Additionally, interviews and encounters with the slain officers’ family members also illustrate the cost and harm of a job that was formed in the early 19th century and remains antiquated and unchanged in our 21st-century world.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of encounter
Noun
  • Professional dancer Giovanni Pernice has vented his fury at the BBC over its handling of his Strictly Come Dancing exit following a clash with Sherlock star Amanda Abbington.
    — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Police special forces responded with flash grenades during the clashes, which officials said lasted until the early hours of Sunday.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of clash
Noun
  • Witnesses told police the suspects got into a dispute with the victim at his car and shot him.
    — Jason Green, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • For many in Canada, the dispute raises concerns about American interference with Canada’s national identity.
    — Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of dispute
Noun
  • These include a severe or persistent headache, changes in vision such as blurred vision or seeing spots, pain in the upper abdomen, significant swelling of the face or hands, shortness of breath, and nausea or vomiting later in pregnancy.
    — Faye Chiu, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
  • But in some cases, West Nile can reach the brain and cause extreme headaches, meningitis, tremors, convulsions and paralysis.
    — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of headache
Verb
  • Cunningham’s highlights are hard fouls, a few 3-pointers, taunting, serving as a ring girl at a UFC fight, her sense of humor, and now commentary that has a Fox flair.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Cyberleek continues to taunt Take-Two and Rockstar, who have been unable to stop these leaks, and legal takedowns of the footage on social media are nowhere near fast enough to stop these clips from spreading.
    — Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of taunt
Verb
  • There’s striker Josie Gordon, bickering twin sisters Siobhan and Niamh, glove-shunning goalie Katie ‘Boots’ Quinn and couple Maddie and Margy.
    — Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Still bloody in last night’s clothing, the two fill a cart with candy and bicker contentedly about the state of the candy industry—arguably also a wink at the state of film.
    — JP Mangalindan, Time, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of bicker
Noun
  • There were certainly more skirmishes between the Eagles offense and Patriots defense.
    — Zach Berman, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Players from the Cowboys and the Saints threw punches during several skirmishes throughout the joint practice, which was conducted in uncommonly hot, humid weather in the coastal town.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of skirmish
Noun
  • There was no controversy about this New York win, a night after Pete Alonso's deep fly ball against the Yankees was ruled foul with the game tied.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Google became embroiled in a prior controversy in February 2024 after its Gemini text-to-image tool produced portrayals of racially diverse German WW2 soldiers.
    — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of controversy

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Cite this Entry

“Hassle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hassle. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.

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