HASSLING Synonyms: 138 Similar and Opposite Words

hassling 1 of 2

adjective

as in mocking

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hassling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of hassle

as in taunting

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

as in bickering

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 hassling

Verb

Eventually, Bournemouth were so sick of Sadiki’s hassling that substitute Lewis Cook jutted an elbow at him. — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 1 Dec. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hassling

Adjective

To get a sense of his whole deal, look no further than the half-mocking, half-earnest title of his latest album, Country!

— Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 23 Sep. 2025

Definition of mocking

Verb

At the trial, Hreljanovic’s lawyers sought to introduce the videos of DeFalco taunting their client — but the judge didn’t allow it.

— Gene Maddaus, Variety, 3 Nov. 2026
Yet there Culkin is, taunting the District tributes and putting on a show for the Capitol elites in the trailers for the upcoming film.

— Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of taunting

Verb

The two are fond but sick of each other, at times bickering with real melancholy and malice.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Nov. 2026
Like law enforcement agents everywhere, they’re disposed to bickering about jurisdiction or pumping each other for off-limits information.

— Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of bickering

Adjective

There was also an August 2024 incident at Fenway when Duran hurled a homophobic slur at a heckling fan.

— Greg Dudek, Hartford Courant, 28 June 2026
Charles Barkley was once spitting mad at a heckling fan, and his expectoration wound up splashing on an 8-year-old girl.

— Jon Greenberg, New York Times, 22 May 2026

Definition of heckling

Verb

In September, while teasing what would become vSphere Express, Paul Turner, VCF’s chief product officer, told The Register that Broadcom issued sales incentives that pushed its sales team to sell VCF.

— Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 4 Nov. 2026
The Grammy winner also teamed up with her friends for a Hairspray group costume, teasing her hair and donning a 1960s-esque dress in a recreation of Amanda Bynes’ character Penny in the 2007 film adaptation of the musical of the same name.

— Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of teasing

Verb

Wisconsin Democrats have failed on multiple occasions to petition the Wisconsin Supreme Court to grant a redraw of the maps, arguing that the current map unfairly favors Republicans.

— Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 5 Nov. 2026
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has repeatedly questioned whether women should serve in ground combat and special operations roles, arguing that their inclusion could undermine military effectiveness and physical standards.

— James LaPorta, CBS News, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of arguing

Adjective

These were actors who may have earlier been needling at or attempting to push my boundaries.

— Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026
But for those who find (and in some cases may be slightly mystified as to why) that there is a nagging, needling value to Schrader’s ongoing project of tussling with grandiose dilemmas of transgression and deliverance, there is some new news here.

— Jessica Kiang, Variety, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of needling

Verb

There’s such a funny contrast between the peaceful idea of gardening and the absolute chaos of fighting your friends.

— Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 1 Nov. 2026
The formula helps reduce the risk of damage with a conditioning and strengthening blend of sunflower seed oil, hydrolyzed rice protein, and glycerin, which are also all heroes at fighting color-fading and dryness.

— Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 1 Nov. 2026

Definition of fighting

Browse Nearby Words

hassles

hassling

haste

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Style

“Hassling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hassling. Accessed 9 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of hassling

adjective

verb

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