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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
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 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
Operators protect prime hours for revenue-producing activity and optimize around needle-moving activities. — Ramon Cadiz, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2026 The device allows the sound waves to penetrate the skull without so much as a needle poke or incision and without causing any damage to surrounding bone or tissue in the process. — Kristen Jordan Shamus, Freep.com, 10 Sep. 2026
Verb
Paint to paper, needle to thread—like couture, fashion illustration is a discipline of the hand. — Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 13 July 2026 Lestat wants Molloy to tell his side of the story, but Lestat also can’t bear to open up, spending more time needling Molloy than actually engaging with his questions. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 23 June 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
  • Ordonez alleges he was kidnapped by two people who threatened him, blindfolded him, had weapons and inserted a syringe into his neck.
    — Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Not to mention, many people (understandably) have mixed feelings about injecting Juvéderm or Restylane and the rest of their ilk into their faces for a bit of a volume boost, or balk at the price for half a syringe of the hyaluronic acid fillers.
    — Kara Nesvig, Allure, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of syringe
Noun
  • Researching Municipal Infrastructure And Development Public and private investments are another indicator of a potential real estate boom.
    — Justin Donald, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
  • With support nearby at the 200-day MA and short-term indicators turning higher, the stock looks positioned for a rebound associated with outperformance versus the SPX.
    — Katie Stockton, CNBC, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of indicator
Verb
  • Elsewhere, the trailer teases tension between Kourtney and the rest of the family.
    — Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Drizzy teased nearly ten new records and mixes in the film, ranging from acoustic ballads to island bops, New Orleans bounce tracks, and another rager with Yeat.
    — Armon Sadler, Rolling Stone, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of tease
Verb
  • Getting back to flying … The rollout of the company’s new Vulcan rocket has been dogged by problems with the vehicle’s solid rocket boosters.
    — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Court records and interviews paint a picture of Rios as a woman who had long been dogged by drug addiction.
    — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of dog
Noun
  • The sweetener is now up about 20% in 2026, versus the nearly 13% advance for the broad market index.
    — Deena Zaidi, CNBC, 6 Sep. 2026
  • The rate is tied to a benchmark index, like the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR).
    — Rebecca Safier, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of index
Verb
  • The Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) announced an investigation after Al Hilal midfielder Ruben Neves appeared to be taunted by the chants during their away league win on Saturday.
    — Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026
  • And nipped any indication that Williams was taunting the 45-year-old coach in the bud.
    — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of taunt
Verb
  • Consumers are urged to immediately take the magnetic humanoid toys away from children, stop using them, and contact Colerinsec for a full refund.
    — Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Anyone in possession of information regarding this investigation is urged to contact the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office Major Crime Unit at 732-929-2027 or the Toms River Township Police Department at 732-349-0150.
    — Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of urge
Verb
  • Southampton’s first game of the season was at Watford, whose fans baited Eckert’s team.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Hackers have long used trickery to bait users into installing malware or giving up their passwords.
    — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of bait

Phrases Containing needle

Browse Nearby Words

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 20 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on needle

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about needle

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