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
Relevance
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
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of needles
Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 17 May 2026
An Oregon family alleged in a $100 million lawsuit that their 18-year-old son died from an infection after doctors at a Corvallis hospital did not remove pine needles and debris from his wound before stitching it up.
—Minyvonne Burke, NBC news, 12 May 2026
Plants are less likely to catch fire if they are properly irrigated, pruned to remove all dead material, and free of fallen leaves, needles and twigs.
—The San Diego Union Tribune, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 May 2026
The deadly fires that devastated homes in Pacific Palisades and Altadena also laid waste to a lush canopy of leaves and pine needles that had cooled and shaded residents here for generations.
—Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
Aside from free needles, Alle is also a critic of naloxone distribution.
—Julie Sharp, CBS News, 7 May 2026
Long needles of ice may set off bolts in one cloud while a deluge of electrons producing gamma rays does it in another cloud.
—Quanta Magazine, 6 May 2026
Sharp objects like scissors and needles or amulets should be carried by pregnant women or placed near sleeping children to ward off her attacks.
—Literary Hub, 5 May 2026
LeafFilter’s gutter guards are also not ideal for areas with particularly heavy debris buildup, as some customer reviews cite issues with pine needles and other particulates gathering on top of the mesh filter.
—Faith Wakefield, USA Today, 4 May 2026
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
Noun
Glossy, scale-like needles remain green all winter long.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 17 May 2026
An Oregon family alleged in a $100 million lawsuit that their 18-year-old son died from an infection after doctors at a Corvallis hospital did not remove pine needles and debris from his wound before stitching it up.
—Minyvonne Burke, NBC news, 12 May 2026
Plants are less likely to catch fire if they are properly irrigated, pruned to remove all dead material, and free of fallen leaves, needles and twigs.
—The San Diego Union Tribune, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 May 2026
The deadly fires that devastated homes in Pacific Palisades and Altadena also laid waste to a lush canopy of leaves and pine needles that had cooled and shaded residents here for generations.
—Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
Aside from free needles, Alle is also a critic of naloxone distribution.
—Julie Sharp, CBS News, 7 May 2026
Long needles of ice may set off bolts in one cloud while a deluge of electrons producing gamma rays does it in another cloud.
—Quanta Magazine, 6 May 2026
Sharp objects like scissors and needles or amulets should be carried by pregnant women or placed near sleeping children to ward off her attacks.
—Literary Hub, 5 May 2026
LeafFilter’s gutter guards are also not ideal for areas with particularly heavy debris buildup, as some customer reviews cite issues with pine needles and other particulates gathering on top of the mesh filter.
—Faith Wakefield, USA Today, 4 May 2026
Verb
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for needles
Noun
-
Analysts looked at 41 indicators, including the cost of flights, number of attracts, and average price of a meal for two people.—
Dan Raby,
CBS News,
13 May 2026
-
That in itself has a clear effect, even if other indicators don’t shift right away.—
Greg Toppo,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
The sneak peek teases friendly competition between the couple and fellow captain Maneet Chauhan, whose team won season 6 of the barbecue showdown.—
Erin Clements,
PEOPLE,
4 May 2026
-
Based on the bestseller from author Colleen Hoover, Johnson stars in the film adaptation that teases lingering secrets and a dark sinister mystery awaiting to be solved.—
Lexy Perez,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Cadaver dogs that previously searched the family's home did indicate dirt in the family's backyard had the scent of human remains.—
Matthew Ablon,
CBS News,
12 May 2026
-
Naomi’s acoustic guitar kept feeding back, causing our stage to spew out the kinds of screeching frequencies that dogs famously hate.—
Katie Gavin,
Time,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
In stock markets abroad, indexes rose in Europe following a mixed finish in Asia.—
Stan Choe,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
-
The developments brought Wall Street’s record-breaking rally to a screeching halt, with technology stocks weighing on indexes.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
Newsom taunts Trump with multiple jabs as Florida redistricting fight ramps up.—
,
FOXNews.com,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Owen is a serial killer who, much like Zodiac, taunts the police with phone calls threatening the murder of innocent citizens.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
My hands and fingers, like hers, have learned the territory and just get on with the job.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 May 2026
-
Gentle cleanse with a fragrance-free, non-stripping cleanser (use hands, lukewarm water).—
Lauryn Higgins,
Flow Space,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
Officials will continue to investigate the area for further evidence of poison bait, and also stressed the importance of the community's cooperation to discourage and prevent the use of poison baits against wildlife.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Whereas fast fashion baits consumers with poorly made clothing available for a limited time, Jendue takes a more elevated approach with high quality denim from Turkey.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Free subway rides home and overnight service on match days are just part of SEPTA's plan to help fans get to and from the 2026 FIFA World Cup games at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.—
Tom Dougherty,
CBS News,
18 May 2026
-
The old gunslinger makes the most of an AFC without an obvious favorite and rides off after one last trip into the playoffs, this one coming with a postseason win.—
Mike DeFabo,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Needles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/needles. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
