Synonyms of hassle

hassle 1 of 2

noun

ˈha-səl 

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• encounter
• brush
• skirmish
• fight
• run-in
• argument
• brawl
• scrape
• quarrel
• battle
• spat
• squabble
• row
• tiff
• wrangle
• fray

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• clash
• skirmish
• fight
• battle
• struggle
• tussle
• fray
• conflict
• scuffle
• brawl
• dustup
• confrontation
• contest
• fracas
• combat
• altercation
• scrimmage
• duel
• scrap
• mix-up
• dispute
• scrum
• blows
• ruckus
• tangle
• rough-and-tumble
• pitched battle
• battle royal
• controversy
• quarrel
• misunderstanding
• spat
• fisticuffs
• melee
• squabble
• wrangle
• free-for-all
• fistfight
• affray
• row
• punch-up
• ruction
• punch-out
• slugfest
• donnybrook
• joust
• falling-out
• tiff
• cross fire
• broil
• disagreement
• face-off
• contretemps
• kickup
• catfight
• argument
• grapple
• handgrips
• argy-bargy
• argle-bargle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• truce

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dispute
• controversy
• altercation
• quarrel
• disagreement
• fight
• argument
• misunderstanding
• bicker
• row
• brawl
• squabble
• wrangle
• spat
• imbroglio
• disputation
• battle royal
• falling-out
• set-to
• tiff
• cross fire
• skirmish
• contretemps
• debate
• clash
• kickup
• feud
• difference
• rhubarb
• donnybrook
• tangle
• scrap
• tussle
• argy-bargy
• argle-bargle
• run-in
• fuss
• protest
• objection
• vendetta
• contention
• dissension
• attack
• logomachy
• protestation
• fisticuffs
• melee
• affray
• free-for-all
• catfight
• fray
• fracas

4

as in headache

something that is a source of irritation

it's a hassle to find a parking space downtown

Synonyms & Similar Words

• headache
• nuisance
• frustration
• worry
• inconvenience
• thorn
• annoyance
• problem
• aggravation
• irritant
• bother
• irk
• rub
• exasperation
• bugbear
• vexation
• pest
• peeve
• trial
• trouble
• discomfort
• burden
• botheration
• hair shirt
• menace
• insult
• ruffle
• aggro
• anxiety
• predicament
• curse
• plague
• upset
• affront
• pinprick
• cross
• sore
• plight
• offender
• tribulation
• albatross
• pet peeve
• disturber
• millstone
• fleabite
• offense
• hang-up
• annoyer
• mischief
• harasser
• affliction
• pandora's box

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• pleasure
• joy
• delight

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• taunt
• tease
• bother
• mock
• annoy
• ride
• trouble
• haze
• bait
• needle
• ridicule
• pick on
• plague
• torture
• heckle
• irritate
• make game of
• try
• discomfort
• spite
• burn (up)
• nag
• irk
• aggravate
• bug
• disturb
• test
• itch
• fret
• pester
• exasperate
• vex
• peeve
• gnaw (at)
• chafe
• gripe
• bully
• grate
• frost
• get
• gibe
• put out
• deride
• torment
• hack (off)
• jeer
• harass
• rile
• ruffle
• goad
• gall
• dog
• badger
• pique
• nark
• agitate
• perturb
• aggrieve
• bedevil
• rasp
• nettle
• hound
• browbeat
• beleaguer
• persecute
• hagride
• terrorize
• harry
• hector

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bicker
• argue
• fight
• spat
• quarrel
• clash
• dispute
• brawl
• wrangle
• squabble
• row
• quibble
• fall out
• scrap
• debate
• jar
• brabble
• controvert
• mix it up
• lock horns
• discuss
• argufy
• tiff
• altercate
• bandy words
• butt heads
• fuss
• challenge
• dare
• contest
• tangle
• contend
• protest
• defy
• object
• cavil
• kick
• consider
• nitpick

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• get along
• accept
• agree
• consent
• coexist
• concur
• assent

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of hassle

Noun

But for companies and teams touring events regularly, adventure guides and other businesses, this seems like a solid, low-hassle choice as a base of multi-day operations. — New Atlas, 25 Oct. 2026

The curvaceous Road to Hana, which hugs Maui's northeastern shore around Haleakalā National Park, is one of the island's most memorable experiences, one that will make the hassle of renting a car worth it. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Oct. 2026

Verb

In the ad, Piven pulls up to a Miami mansion party in a sports car and is hassled by a bouncer. — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 8 Sep. 2026

Each presents a group portrait of a handful of disaffected British suburbanites—husbands who resent their deadening jobs, toddlers who whine and interrupt, and, above all, hassled wives subsumed by a crush of household obligations. — Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026