Synonyms of needles

needles 1 of 2

noun

plural of needle

1

as in syringes

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

• syringes
• hypodermics
• hypodermic needles
• hypes
• hypodermic syringes

2

as in indicators

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• indicators
• indexes
• hands
• gauges
• pointers
• dials
• faces

needles

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of needle

1

as in teases

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

• teases
• taunts
• baits
• mocks
• rides
• bothers
• hazes
• tortures
• hassles
• picks on
• annoys
• nettles
• plagues
• heckles
• ruffles
• troubles
• ridicules
• irritates
• tests
• makes game of
• itches
• gibes
• grates
• galls
• spites
• frets
• rasps
• gripes
• bullies
• bugs
• goads
• frosts
• dogs
• tries
• badgers
• burns (up)
• narks
• peeves
• jeers
• riles
• beleaguers
• chafes
• vexes
• pesters
• aggravates
• torments
• discomforts
• gnaws (at)
• nags
• derides
• disturbs
• aggrieves
• exasperates
• piques
• irks
• hacks (off)
• gets
• puts out
• hounds
• hagrides
• agitates
• bedevils
• persecutes
• hectors
• perturbs
• harries
• harasses
• browbeats
• terrorizes

2

as in dogs

to subject (someone) to constant scoldings and sharp reminders

quit needling me! I'll take out the trash in a minute!

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dogs
• pecks (at)
• picks at
• urges
• henpecks
• hounds
• begs
• nags
• bothers
• eggs
• badgers
• spurs
• baits
• pressures
• prods
• pushes
• annoys
• plagues
• bugs
• goads
• rides
• prompts
• carps (at)
• harries
• fusses (about or over)
• pesters
• vexes
• harasses
• hassles
• insists
• chivies
• wheedles
• irks
• presses
• coaxes
• incites
• cajoles
• yaps (at)
• nitpicks
• importunes
• pleads
• exhorts
• blandishes

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• compliments
• recommends
• praises
• commends
• builds up
• lauds
• applauds
• extols
• touts
• acclaims
• eulogizes

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of needles

Noun

To break the chains of infections stemming from contaminated needles, Soqo has proposed supplying thousands of sterile needles and syringes to communities of methamphetamine users. — David Cox, NPR, 26 Sep. 2026

The machine is available in E28 and E32 gauges, corresponding to 28 or 32 needles per inch, and with four fabric batching systems. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 25 Sep. 2026

No gas capsules, needles or refills -- hands-free sealing with a completion beep. — ABC News, 21 Sep. 2026

And for landscaping companies, the needles are a high-profit source of revenue. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 20 Sep. 2026

Every fall, for example, evergreen trees and shrubs, such as pines and spruce, drop their oldest needles. — Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026

The government is expanding free testing, providing clean needles for drug users and offering free antiretroviral treatments, addressing a critical gap given that only 39% of patients know their status and a mere 22% are receiving care. — Jessica Mekles, FOXNews.com, 19 Sep. 2026

The team has eradicated every invasive casuarina pine, the Australian import whose needles poison the native plants beneath it, along with invasive sea grapes that chew up the dunes. — Sydney Lake, Fortune, 10 Sep. 2026

Volunteers inspect supplies, check expiration dates and organize items ranging from needles to surgical instruments. — Jamal Goss, CBS News, 9 Sep. 2026

Verb

McDaniel needles the other side of the ball too, James said, warning defenders to be ready for a deep pass before hitting them with a quick out. — Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026

The Velvet Gang needles the outraged Christie ever so. — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 19 May 2026

As Thea’s former suitor, Tesman struggles to call her by her married name, a slip of the tongue that Hedda constantly needles him about. — Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026

Jake needles Harry about the past 50 years, but Harry can only offer scraps of history. — Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Jan. 2026

Phrases Containing needles

• on pins and needles