needle 1 of 2

noun

ˈnē-dᵊl How to pronounce needle (audio)
Definition of needlenext
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

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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

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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

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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!

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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 needle
Noun
In May, Tennessee officials stabbed Tony Carruthers with needles and a scalpel for more than an hour while blood streamed down his chest. — Maya Foa, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026 Here is what to know about needle fear and the needle-free peptide options drugmakers are now testing. — Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 8 Oct. 2026
Verb
McDaniel needles the other side of the ball too, James said, warning defenders to be ready for a deep pass before hitting them with a quick out. — Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026 Norris needled Lahti to work out more to beef up his core muscles. — Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 26 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for needle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for needle
  1. syringe
  2. indicator
  3. tease
  4. dog
  5. index
  6. taunt
  7. urge
  8. bait
Noun
  • Drugmakers are now racing to deliver the same medicines without a syringe in the form of a strip.
    — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Investigators recovered syringes and a spoon next to a brown powdery substance in the bathroom, as well as a handgun, two shot glasses and a syringe on a nightstand next to the bed, the report states.
    — Tracy Wright , Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of syringe
Noun
  • The index is a weighted sum of six sub-indices that are derived from Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) data, PMI comments trackers and PMI commodity price and supply indicators that are compiled by S&P Global.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026
  • The broad market's rise lifted some components of the S & P 500 – notably a few energy stocks – into overbought territory, based on the relative strength index (RSI), a momentum indicator that tracks the velocity and size of price changes.
    — Tobias Burns, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of indicator
Verb
  • When appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon last week, the Canadian pop singer teased the single.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Mahomes began teasing the collection last week with several posts on her Instagram.
    — Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of tease
Verb
  • Hope Florida Foundation got a new board and filed tax returns, but criticisms of its efficacy still dog its leaders.
    — Christopher Spata, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Still, Marshall has been dogged by negative headlines over the last month, starting with a debate at the Kansas State Fair where the senator was shouted down by the crowd repeatedly.
    — Stephen Fowler, NPR, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of dog
Noun
  • The case mortality rate is the best index for quantifying care, said the IDF medical specialist.
    — Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2026
  • The broad market's rise lifted some components of the S & P 500 – notably a few energy stocks – into overbought territory, based on the relative strength index (RSI), a momentum indicator that tracks the velocity and size of price changes.
    — Tobias Burns, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of index
Verb
  • The woman, who also reported it to the league, alleged that Jackson refused to delete the video and taunted her with it.
    — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Last week, Greenlaw was fined $11,941 for unsportsmanlike conduct after taunting the Broncos' sideline and head coach Sean Payton.
    — Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of taunt
Verb
  • The rebels urged their forces to continue fighting and called on Tigrayans to support them.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Students have urged residents to stay away on Friday to avoid confrontation with Vucic's supporters.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of urge
Verb
  • In Pakistan, Choudhary told me, the workforce of the author-baiting scams is largely made up of high-school and university graduates.
    — Snigdha Poonam, The Dial, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The massive aerial operation is part of an annual operation to spread rabies vaccination baits targeting raccoons and other wildlife in the state.
    — Dan Raby, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of bait

Phrases Containing needle

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needing
needle
needled
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Cite this Entry

“Needle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/needle. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on needle

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about needle

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