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
The promise is especially enticing for those seeking a needle-free alternative to cosmetic procedures. — Amanda Le, InStyle, 11 July 2026 What could move the needle, according to Held, is evidence that covering those drugs ultimately reduces costs in other areas. — Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 8 July 2026
Verb
Local billionaire and Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince has needled Katz to sell him the mountain, saying that Vail’s roll-up model has led to a worse experience. — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 26 May 2026 The Velvet Gang needles the outraged Christie ever so. — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 19 May 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
  • With a catheter inserted into a vein, intravenous tubing fitted and a syringe pump loaded and primed, the subject waits as the bed retracts until his brain is centered within the great coils of an MRI machine calibrated to map altered brain states.
    — Charles Moss, SPIN, 16 July 2026
  • Because Renuva’s maximum syringe size is just 3ccs, it was commonly used in smaller areas like the hands, face and neck, whereas the largest syringe of alloClae can hold around 22cc of more product.
    — Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 13 July 2026
Definition of syringe
Noun
  • According to PetSafe, the earliest indicators include heavy or rapid panting, excessive thirst, seeking out shade, lagging behind on walks and gums that appear darker or brighter pink than usual.
    — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 13 July 2026
  • Humans thrive in natural settings, and being among trees improves multiple health indicators.
    — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 13 July 2026
Definition of indicator
Verb
  • Later, on his social media, Ty teased another collaboration with the pop star in the future.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 18 July 2026
  • Sales, who plays at Lawrence North High in Indianapolis, took official visits to all five of his finalists, and as recently as Tuesday, teased a picture of himself on a visit to Texas on his personal Instagram page.
    — Grace Raynor, New York Times, 17 July 2026
Definition of tease
Verb
  • The duo are forced on the run across Europe, dogged by their past, and successfully get themselves out of danger.
    — Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2026
  • The players were nicknamed the Black Sox by the press, a name that would dog them.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 July 2026
Definition of dog
Noun
  • Temperatures and the heat index are forecast to elevate throughout the weekend, with Sunday and Monday being the hottest days.
    — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 18 July 2026
  • The once-soaring Kospi index has plunged 27% after a hitting a record high last month, putting it well into bear market territory.
    — Jason Ma, Fortune, 18 July 2026
Definition of index
Verb
  • In that contest, Clark was assessed a technical foul for loudly clapping in the direction of Mercury players during a skirmish, which White said the officials deemed as taunting.
    — James Boyd, New York Times, 19 July 2026
  • Cox will play the Ripper — real name Dom Frant — who no longer kills but still taunts survivors of his past crimes.
    — Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 15 July 2026
Definition of taunt
Verb
  • An evacuation warning means a potential threat to life and/or property, and those who require time to evacuate were urged to leave ahead of any mandatory evacuation order.
    — Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 14 July 2026
  • Hearings on the issue took place in Washington last week, with some industry associations urging the administration to refrain from imposing new duties.
    — Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 13 July 2026
Definition of urge
Verb
  • His travel ball coach vividly remembers McDonald’s father, who was his assistant coach, leaving tournaments to plant corn and bait deer at their cabin in Georgia.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 14 July 2026
  • The federal agency detailed removal efforts on its website, including traps baited with eggs and trackers to lure tegus and study their movements.
    — Rylan DiGiacomo-Rapp, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 July 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 20 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on needle

Nglish: Translation of needle for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about needle

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