as in tease
a person who causes repeated emotional pain, distress, or annoyance to another
those merciless needlers who had the child in tears almost every day at school
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for needler
Noun
-
The fact that a major publishing announcement (or at least a tease of one) is being made on a mainstream entertainment podcast rather than through a traditional book-industry channel speaks to how pop culture and publishing are increasingly intertwined.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
4 Mar. 2026 -
As for which Bridgerton sibling takes the spotlight next, Brownell offered a tease.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Mahmoudian decided to help his torturer.—
Cora Engelbrecht,
New Yorker,
1 Mar. 2026
-
The film, which looks at a former political prisoner who considers violent revenge against his prison torturer, was co-written by Panahi, Mahmoudian, Nader Saeiver and Shadhmer Rastin.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Instead, the lawsuit argued, law enforcement in the area where the harasser lived should have served the papers.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
27 Dec. 2025
-
Moreover, when harassers disproportionately target women, people of color and LGBTQ officials, entire communities are systematically excluded from participation in self-governance.—
Ernestine Nettles,
Mercury News,
22 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Our tormentor is angry the state chose Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024 and has not met his demands to stop mail-in voting and release his supporter and fellow election denier Tina Peters from prison.—
Krista Kafer,
Denver Post,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Gisèle Pelicot divorced her tormentor when the abuse came to light in 2020.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Mar. 2026
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.
Cite this Entry
“Needler.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/needler. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
