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

Track three scuttles atop a bed of pine needles and broken eggshells, a nervous, almost dubsteppy rhythm haloed in Four Tet’s characteristic bell tones. — Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 18 July 2026

The dense evergreen cover provides shelter, the soft needles nesting material, and the seed-bearing cones give food for a variety of bird species. — Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 July 2026

The biggest practical difference is the form — a daily pill instead of an injection every two to four weeks — which may appeal to people who have fear of needles or find injection schedules challenging to keep up with. — Robert Glatter, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

Icotyde is core to our investment thesis as patients look to trade in needles for pills. — Zev Fima, CNBC, 15 July 2026

Set the scene In front, Phu Quoc’s sugar-white Long Beach, studded with skinny palms like needles on a pincushion. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 July 2026

The smell of pine needles, soil, and bark mingles with faraway flowers, and suddenly, the rain doesn’t feel too bad. — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 15 July 2026

From shabby apartments to art experiments to filthy needles—with echoes of Patti Smith and Rebecca Makkai—Adler conjures an era of sorrow borne by too many, too young. — Hamilton Cain, Time, 7 July 2026

Favorites like needles no more NO MORE BAGGAGE, pores no more PORE REFINER PRIMER and more are also available. — ABC News, 6 July 2026

Verb

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