Synonyms of needle

needle 1 of 2

noun

ˈnē-dᵊl 

1

as in syringe

a slender hollow instrument by which material is put into or taken from the body through the skin

the nurse inserted the needle into his vein and collected some blood for testing

Synonyms & Similar Words

• syringe
• hypodermic needle
• hypodermic
• hypodermic syringe
• hype

2

as in indicator

an arrow-shaped piece on a dial or scale for registering information

simply by reading the compass needle you should be able to figure out in which direction we're heading

Synonyms & Similar Words

• indicator
• index
• gauge
• hand
• pointer
• gage
• dial
• face

needle

2 of 2

verb

1

as in to tease

to attack repeatedly with mean put-downs or insults

we needled him mercilessly for thinking that he had any chance of being the prom date for the school's most popular girl

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

2

as in to dog

to subject (someone) to constant scoldings and sharp reminders

quit needling me! I'll take out the trash in a minute!

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dog
• peck (at)
• urge
• pick at
• beg
• hound
• nag
• push
• bother
• badger
• egg
• carp (at)
• bait
• henpeck
• pressure
• annoy
• spur
• prod
• bug
• plague
• ride
• goad
• fuss (about or over)
• prompt
• harass
• vex
• coax
• harry
• irk
• incite
• pester
• insist
• chivvy
• chivy
• yap (at)
• wheedle
• hassle
• nitpick
• cajole
• plead
• press
• exhort
• importune
• blandish

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• compliment
• recommend
• commend
• praise
• build up
• tout
• laud
• applaud
• acclaim
• extol
• eulogize
• extoll

Examples of needle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Before dropping a ridiculous amount of money on Botox and fillers, avoid the needles and instead fight the wrinkles with SiO Beauty FaceLift. —Mia Meltzer, Rolling Stone, 30 Aug. 2024

Alas, when the two different factions meet, the combustible results suggest that was never going to be an easy needle to thread, either back in 2020 or now. —Leslie Felperin, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Aug. 2024

Verb

Since Biden stepped aside and endorsed Harris, Emhoff has stepped up his own attacks on Trump, recently needling the former president about mispronouncing his wife’s first name. —Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 30 July 2024

Democrats, meanwhile, needled Trump for once donating to Harris. —Ashley Parker, Washington Post, 21 July 2024

Phrases Containing needle

• hypodermic needle