1
as in teasing
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 nagging
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
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Recent Examples of needling
Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2026
In cases of significant thinning, Small recommends procedures like platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy or micro-needling.
—Rebecca Strong, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026
Then, again, the needling cold.
—Roey Leonardi, The Atlantic, 22 Feb. 2026
He’s repeated that sentiment in countless interviews over the years, but hearing him say it in front of his gently needling bandmates gives it a different kind of resonance.
—Jordan Runtagh, PEOPLE, 27 Nov. 2025
Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 12 Mar. 2026
The woman needling the Cubs, hands at her head, was the daughter of the Braves coach.
—Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
For power users, this sort of thing can’t help but read as needling, even petty platform quirks.
—Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2026
In cases of significant thinning, Small recommends procedures like platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy or micro-needling.
—Rebecca Strong, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026
Then, again, the needling cold.
—Roey Leonardi, The Atlantic, 22 Feb. 2026
He’s repeated that sentiment in countless interviews over the years, but hearing him say it in front of his gently needling bandmates gives it a different kind of resonance.
—Jordan Runtagh, PEOPLE, 27 Nov. 2025
Verb
Russia is needling Ukraine’s European allies with asymmetrical warfare – sabotage and cyberattacks – to perhaps provoke a wider conflict while imposing costs.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 12 Mar. 2026
The woman needling the Cubs, hands at her head, was the daughter of the Braves coach.
—Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for needling
Adjective
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To get a sense of his whole deal, look no further than the half-mocking, half-earnest title of his latest album, Country!—
Jonathan Bernstein,
Rolling Stone,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The conversation includes some light teasing about each other’s attachment styles — the intimate banter of close friends.—
Maddie Connors,
Los Angeles Times,
4 May 2026
-
On April 30, Beyoncé updated her website to feature a photo of Destiny’s Child alongside rock legend Stevie Nicks, teasing a potential collaboration.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Realmuto has dealt with nagging back and foot injuries this season.—
Tom Dougherty,
CBS News,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Marsh declined to offer specifics regarding the lower body injuries nagging Stevens and Westbeld, neither of whom participated in scrimmaging during the final half-hour of training camp made available to the media.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
For a brief moment, there was a new 48-hour countdown taunting us on Taylor Swift’s website.—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
1 May 2026
-
Over just four days this month, Milei, an avid user of X, wrote 86 posts taunting and insulting journalists, according to an analysis of his feed between April 2 and 5 by prominent Argentine daily La Nación.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Shortly after the ruling, Republicans were urging a review of their congressional maps in Louisiana, Tennessee and elsewhere.—
Nicholas Riccardi,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
-
On Monday, Bloomberg News reported that around 600 Google workers sent a letter to CEO Sundar Pichai urging him to refuse new AI partnerships with the Pentagon.—
Jared Perlo,
NBC news,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Reuters reported that BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, who hosted the dinner of some 200 people as co-chair of the World Economic Forum, ended the dinner after the heckling incident — before dessert was served.—
Ashleigh Fields,
The Hill,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Vice President Vance appeared on FOX News Channel’s The Ingraham Angle hours after the heckling incident, telling the host about visiting with the national guardsmen and discussing recent changes to the city, while briefly mentioning the protesters.—
Jillian Frankel,
People.com,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Even today, as the Suns battle the Oklahoma City Thunder in a Western Conference first-round series, the 6-foot-3 Goodwin is among the league’s bigger pests, grabbing rebounds, hounding shooters, stealing possessions.—
Doug Haller,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
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At times texts showed Diamantis hounding them for his payment and threatening to remove them from school jobs if he wasn’t paid.—
Dave Altimari,
Hartford Courant,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Educators were fired for making insensitive comments about him on their personal social-media accounts; a firefighter in Toledo lost his job for posting a derisive eulogy on Facebook; various airline employees were suspended for disparaging Kirk online.—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
New Yorker,
29 Apr. 2026
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But this time, American allies have balked at Trump’s request to send warships to help transport oil through the strait, suggesting there is a limit to how far Europe will go to keep Trump onside in Ukraine and demonstrating the upshot of Trump’s derisive attitude toward alliances.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
16 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Needling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/needling. Accessed 5 May. 2026.
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