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

The forests are thick with spruce, their needles a deep, musty green veiled in shadows. — Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026

The company made use of burgeoning microneedle patch technology, placing the microneedles in select designs like stars and hearts on the patch, and embedding pigments in the miniscule needles. — Avery Stone, Time, 15 Oct. 2026

The seven-step facial includes a cleanse; a professional biostimulating step applied to the skin with no needles; lifting; nano-infusion with a no-puncture tip; a cold biocellulose mask; LED, and finishing serums and SPF. — Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026

Several factors raise the risk, according to Cleveland Clinic, including a history of negative or traumatic experiences with needles and a family history of needle phobia. — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 8 Oct. 2026

In May, Tennessee officials stabbed Tony Carruthers with needles and a scalpel for more than an hour while blood streamed down his chest. — Maya Foa, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026

Peptide therapy has mostly meant injections, which is a hard sell for anyone squeamish about needles or juggling a busy routine. — Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 7 Oct. 2026

Then, inside the death house, executioners struggled to find a vein, jabbing Pike with at least seven needles, according to her lawyers, one of whom watched in dismay. — Keri Blakinger, ProPublica, 6 Oct. 2026

With wet leaves, dry leaves, and pine needles shrunk into tiny cuttings, this electric shredder is able to convert 18 bags of yard waste into one bag of nutrient-heavy mulch that can feed your gardens and landscaping. — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Oct. 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