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
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Recent Examples of needled
By contrast, Trump is being needled almost weekly by Tillis and other GOP senators whose chattiness with the press has drawn the ire of the president.
—
David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 31 May 2026
Yang was critical of TKO’s handling of the Las Vegas event, which took place last week at Allegiant Stadium for the second straight year and needled the company over the recent wave of WWE departures.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 26 Apr. 2026
Johnson could have needled Woods about their windy Sunday stroll at Augusta in ’07, when Johnson trailed Stuart Appleby by two strokes, and Woods by one, heading into the last round in which Johnson’s 69 produced another slice of history.
—Jay Paris, Oc Register, 26 Mar. 2026
But there are other factors that needled their way into the evolutionary development of dormancy characteristics.
—Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 9 Jan. 2026
Thanks to him and his colleagues Lucas Atia and Janet Teng, there’s a much faster, simpler treatment without an IV bag and an hour of getting needled, and a far more accessible treatment for people for whom simply getting to the hospital might be a major hassle or even an impossibility.
—New Atlas, 30 Dec. 2025
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
David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 31 May 2026
Yang was critical of TKO’s handling of the Las Vegas event, which took place last week at Allegiant Stadium for the second straight year and needled the company over the recent wave of WWE departures.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 26 Apr. 2026
Johnson could have needled Woods about their windy Sunday stroll at Augusta in ’07, when Johnson trailed Stuart Appleby by two strokes, and Woods by one, heading into the last round in which Johnson’s 69 produced another slice of history.
—Jay Paris, Oc Register, 26 Mar. 2026
But there are other factors that needled their way into the evolutionary development of dormancy characteristics.
—Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 9 Jan. 2026
Thanks to him and his colleagues Lucas Atia and Janet Teng, there’s a much faster, simpler treatment without an IV bag and an hour of getting needled, and a far more accessible treatment for people for whom simply getting to the hospital might be a major hassle or even an impossibility.
—New Atlas, 30 Dec. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for needled
Verb
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The woman alleged that Jackson repeatedly refused to delete the video and then taunted her with it.—
Gary Klein,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
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When Metcalf and others asked him to leave, Anthony taunted and provoked Metcalf, took out a knife and stabbed him, prosecutor Bill Wirskye said, according to KTVT.—
Eric Levenson,
CNN Money,
9 June 2026
Verb
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Officials in Hood County, Texas, for example, rejected a proposal for a six-month moratorium after a state senator urged the Texas attorney general to intervene and prevent the measure.—
Rachel Mural,
The Conversation,
18 June 2026
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Van Diggelen urged her colleagues to be open to diverse conversations and understand that men and women operate differently.—
Angela Velasquez,
Footwear News,
18 June 2026
Verb
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As the episode teased, 12 new boys are set to make their Love Island USA debut on Monday, June 22, continuing the high-stakes week full of fresh connections, messy romances and shocking twists.—
Jordana Comiter,
PEOPLE,
23 June 2026
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This was first teased during an animation segment at CinemaCon, then apparently teased again at Annecy today in the Warner reel.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
22 June 2026
Verb
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Goldberg, on the other hand, hounded Freedman with questions, asking about every material used in every step of the process.—
Jesse Armas,
Curbed,
16 June 2026
-
Even Arnett recounted a moment where she was hounded by photographers on her way to the Monster-in-Law set, only contributing to her level of stress.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
16 June 2026
Verb
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One attack ad mocked Ossoff for playful college-era behavior.—
Jay Stahl,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
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Just days before the opening of the Obama Presidential Center, a professional UFC fighter standing inside a cage erected on the South Lawn of the White House mocked former First Lady Michelle Obama by referring to her as a man.—
Sophia A. Nelson,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
Verb
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On Saturday night, with Karl-Anthony Towns and OG nagged by foul trouble and the bench players struggling, Brunson refused to give in.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
14 June 2026
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But his promise to visit Bolduc’s widow nagged at him.—
Kevin Maurer,
The Atlantic,
6 June 2026
Verb
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Following the settlement, McAfee wrote to Martin to apologize, but also begged her to move on.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
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Zayn, then, begged for Rhodes’ honesty.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
14 June 2026
Verb
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Rodriguez’s career has been dogged by injuries, limiting him to 261 career snaps.—
Adam Lichtenstein,
Sun Sentinel,
22 June 2026
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Putting those questions up front helps avoid the tenant frustrations that have dogged parts of the industry as operators expand, contract or change hands.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
17 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Needled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/needled. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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