1
as in taunted
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
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2
as in urged
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 needled
The Ukrainian leader also wore more formal attire, something that did not go unnoticed by pro-Trump reporter Brian Glenn, who in February needled Zelensky for his lack of a suit.
—
Brett Samuels, The Hill, 18 Aug. 2025
Trump at one point needled Zelenskyy over Ukraine delaying elections.
—Aamer Madhani, Fortune, 18 Aug. 2025
One ayatollah in particular, Ruhollah Khomeini, needled the Shah incessantly.
—Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
Brett Samuels, The Hill, 18 Aug. 2025
Trump at one point needled Zelenskyy over Ukraine delaying elections.
—Aamer Madhani, Fortune, 18 Aug. 2025
One ayatollah in particular, Ruhollah Khomeini, needled the Shah incessantly.
—Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for needled
Verb
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On another occasion, a group of students tripped him to the ground, put a cheese crown made of paper on his head, and then taunted him with actual cheese.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
29 Oct. 2025
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While Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitched a one-run complete game in a historic outing for Los Angeles at the Rogers Centre, all eyes were on superstar Shohei Ohtani after he was booed and taunted by the Toronto crowd in Game 1.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Fans are urged to wear white at Ford Field.—
Leah Olajide,
Freep.com,
9 Nov. 2025
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During that visit, then Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo urged Francis in unusually frank terms to take concrete action.—
Christopher Lamb,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The duo also teased what to expect from Season 2 of The Pitt.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
6 Nov. 2025
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Earlier this week, Ballerini teased the forthcoming release by posting a video on her socials that showed Ballerini swinging on a swingset in a park.—
Jessica Nicholson,
Billboard,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Hansen Yang – hounded by over a dozen Chinese media members there to chronicle his every move – launched jumpers while Mandarin pop songs blared through the arena.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
26 Oct. 2025
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The search for answers grew more desperate after Payne, wracked with grief and hounded by reporters, died by suicide near the very spot where Mary’s body had been found.—
Christina Coulter,
PEOPLE,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In another photo obtained by TMZ, Matthews also mocked Perry’s headline-making photo of her kissing the ground following her return to Earth.—
Jason Pham,
StyleCaster,
10 Nov. 2025
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Elites stirred up a now familiar moral panic about commerce corrupting letters and mocked Grub Street even as its writers built the first modern freelance economy and mass-print culture.—
Deni Ellis Béchard,
Scientific American,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The mystery of their survival nagged at Alex Maranghides, a fire-protection engineer at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), who worked with several colleagues on a meticulous reconstruction of the fire.—
Ingfei Chen,
New Yorker,
22 Oct. 2025
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Plus, if you’re constantly nagged by pesky mosquitos and other flying critters, scoop up this outdoor bug zapper to rid your space of bugs for good.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In one of her earliest letters, Ball begged Arnaz not to give in to temptation while touring with his band.—
Lauryn Overhultz,
FOXNews.com,
9 Nov. 2025
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The question begged repeating after drafting Allen in 2023, signing Parkinson as a free agent in 2024 and then again this summer after the Rams used their top draft pick on Oregon tight end Terrance Ferguson in the second round in April.—
Adam Grosbard,
Oc Register,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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In conversation with James Fallon, chief content officer of WWD and Fairchild Media Group, at the WWD Apparel & Retail CEO Summit, Kliger was clear-eyed about the weaknesses that have dogged Net-a-porter for years, but confident in the ability to turn it around.—
Evan Clark,
Footwear News,
10 Nov. 2025
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Florida’s 2018 election and recount fiasco reinforced the state’s reputation as a place where voting is dogged by problems.—
David Smiley,
Miami Herald,
10 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Needled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/needled. Accessed 29 Nov. 2025.
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