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
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Recent Examples of needle
Daniel Burke, NPR, 6 May 2025
Instead, ingenuity and novelty will help move the needle.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 4 May 2025
Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 1 Apr. 2025
The Defender’s large footprint is justified by its considerable luggage capacity, but at the end of the day, the challenges of needling the 110 through narrow roadways and squeezing it into tight parking spots can become a chore.
—Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 1 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for needle
Noun
After each vote, a needle is pushed through the ballots, binding them together.
—Daniel Burke, NPR, 6 May 2025
Instead, ingenuity and novelty will help move the needle.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 4 May 2025
Verb
The Defender’s large footprint is justified by its considerable luggage capacity, but at the end of the day, the challenges of needling the 110 through narrow roadways and squeezing it into tight parking spots can become a chore.
—Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 1 Apr. 2025
The Defender’s large footprint is justified by its considerable luggage capacity, but at the end of the day, the challenges of needling the 110 through narrow roadways and squeezing it into tight parking spots can become a chore.
—Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 1 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for needle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for needle
Noun
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Key Ingredients: Hydrogen peroxide Type: Hydrogen peroxide gel syringe, LED whitening mouthpiece Number of Treatments Included: N/A How to Use: Apply a thin line of gel to the top and bottom of the tray, then insert it into your mouth.—
Iman Balagam,
Vogue,
13 Apr. 2025
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Jon Hamm made a Walton Goggins–esque appearance as Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who brought a syringe full of active measles virus along on the trip, and pulled a knife to kill and eat one of the resort's native monkeys.—
Jillian Sederholm,
EW.com,
13 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Information is more valuable than gold, so unusual transparency or sudden opaqueness are significant indicators of impending shifts.—
John Pierce,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2025
-
More money coming in than going out is positive cash flow, and a key indicator of business strength and growth potential.—
Asli Pelit,
New York Times,
21 May 2025
Verb
-
For a long time, Burna Boy has been teasing a new album called No Sign of Weakness.—
Matthew Strauss,
Pitchfork,
22 May 2025
-
In a Zoom conversation prior to the release of Reacher Season 3 in February, Ritchson and Sten playfully teased the possibility.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2025
Verb
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Fighting his corner all the while is dogged Australian human rights lawyer Jen Robinson and Stella Moris, another loyal member of his legal team, who eventually became Assange’s wife, and mother to two of his children.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
22 May 2025
-
In fact, in one area that has dogged most American public schools, the military schools have stood out.—
Anna Mulrine Grobe,
Christian Science Monitor,
20 May 2025
Noun
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Perhaps that’s why Swedes consistently rank near the top of happiness indexes: Here, there are plenty of options to leave the world behind and surround yourself with the healing properties of water.—
Stephanie Pearson,
Outside Online,
19 May 2025
-
The index only last week turned green for the year, amid a sharply recovery rally as Trump has paused his steepest tariffs and U.S.-China tensions cooled off.—
Kevin Stankiewicz,
CNBC,
19 May 2025
Verb
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Soon, a malevolent fetch -- his ghostly double -- emerges, taunting him with hallucinations of his dead son and dragging him toward the brink of madness.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
22 May 2025
-
Noted, But Not Personal After the Pacers eliminated the Knicks last season, Myles Turner went viral for parading through New York City and taunting Knicks fans.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
19 May 2025
Noun
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Wall Street’s fear gauge, the CBOE Volatility Index, surged more than 15%.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
21 May 2025
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In the most classic format, the gauge readout mimics an analog speedometer and tachometer, with fuel level and coolant temp readouts alongside any active cruise control modes, warning lights and other critical driver info.—
Michael Teo Van Runkle,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2025
Verb
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Trump administration live updates Republicans also criticized Democrats for twice baiting CBO into hypothetical analyses that were not necessarily intended to be published.—
John Parkinson,
ABC News,
12 May 2025
-
What if family pets were baited to die by spears, crossbows and AR-15s?—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Needle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/needle. Accessed 28 May. 2025.
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