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
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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
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of needle
Jane Bua, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
Even the commitment to campaigning can move the needle, especially for two streamers looking to recruit more talent to their ranks.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
Jeff Marks, CNBC, 1 Apr. 2026
Johnson could have needled Woods about their windy Sunday stroll at Augusta in ’07, when Johnson trailed Stuart Appleby by two strokes, and Woods by one, heading into the last round in which Johnson’s 69 produced another slice of history.
—Jay Paris, Oc Register, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for needle
Noun
Unpredictable hours, loud noises, finicky clients, wrenches, needles.
—Jane Bua, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
Even the commitment to campaigning can move the needle, especially for two streamers looking to recruit more talent to their ranks.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
Verb
After injectable GLP-1s soared in popularity in recent years, the introduction of oral versions is seen as a way to expand the market to needle-adverse patients.
—Jeff Marks, CNBC, 1 Apr. 2026
Johnson could have needled Woods about their windy Sunday stroll at Augusta in ’07, when Johnson trailed Stuart Appleby by two strokes, and Woods by one, heading into the last round in which Johnson’s 69 produced another slice of history.
—Jay Paris, Oc Register, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for needle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for needle
Noun
-
Wegovy injections are done with a single-use auto injector, while Zepbound is available as a single-use auto injector, in a single-use vial that is administered via syringe, or in a new device called a KwikPen that can deliver several doses before it is discarded.—
Jody Dushay,
STAT,
29 May 2026
-
According to the plea agreement, Iwamasa filled a syringe with ketamine and administered it to Perry while the actor was in or near the tub.—
Brittny Mejia,
Los Angeles Times,
27 May 2026
Noun
-
Due to the issue, the instrument panel cluster combination meter may fail to display certain warnings or indicators, meaning the cars do not comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS).—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
-
Morgan Stanley's Serena Tang noted that an indicator for market sentiment has turned negative.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
Not many 49ers can openly tease and/or taunt an opponent without fear of repercussions.—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
7 June 2026
-
She's teased there will be harnesses.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
7 June 2026
Verb
-
In 2016, voters were asked to choose between a populist candidate dogged by questions about his integrity, judgment, decency, civility, empathy, and respect for everyone from complete strangers to his own wife, and an overqualified, glass-ceiling-smashing woman.—
Shannon A. Mullen,
The Atlantic,
4 June 2026
-
The idea that dogs graze to purge a sick stomach is one of the explanations owners reach for most.—
Niranjana Rajalakshmi,
Popular Science,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
The top 10 companies in the S&P 500—eight of them essentially tech names—now account for more than 41% of index market cap and 33% of earnings.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
8 June 2026
-
Nick Wilcox, managing director for discretionary equities at Man Group, echoed that view, noting that Korea's rapid ascent in emerging-market indices has created structural pressures for international investors.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
The neighbor, who lived across the hall from Valentine, said the suspect routinely taunted her from inside her apartment, uttering her insults through the microphone of a doorbell camera.—
Roni Jacobson,
New York Daily News,
3 June 2026
-
Fans booed as Jade Cargill took control early, taunting Rhea with pushups.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
Most bait fishermen, however, are extremely conservative.—
Byron W. Dalrymple,
Outdoor Life,
4 June 2026
-
Chemical solutions include insecticide sprays, powders, and bait traps.—
Cori Sears,
The Spruce,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
Schloesser, who has worked at Amazon for nearly six years, urged Seattle officials to require data center developers to commit to using renewable energy to power facilities and no longer use non-disclosure agreements or shell companies when announcing new projects.—
Annie Palmer,
CNBC,
4 June 2026
-
On Wednesday, Rollins urged pet owners to keep a close watch for signs of discomfort, open wounds or larvae or eggs near body openings.—
Jen Christensen,
CNN Money,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Needle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/needle. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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