needle 1 of 2

noun

ˈnē-dᵊl How to pronounce needle (audio)
Definition of needlenext
1
as in syringe
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

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2
as in indicator
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

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needle

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to tease
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

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2
as in to dog
to subject (someone) to constant scoldings and sharp reminders quit needling me! I'll take out the trash in a minute!

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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 needle
Noun
Like other firs, the needlelike leaves of the oyamel fir grow directly from the branch, and the needles’ bases, which are shaped like suction cups, leave conspicuous circular scars when the leaves fall. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Oct. 2026 One contains leather-cutting tools, another curved needles and bits of leather showing the different types of stitching that go into the bags. — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026
Verb
Freedom thought Cloud went low, needling him with accusations of trying to win Cunningham’s affection. — Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 At a Sunday rally in Georgia, Ossoff needled Trump for accepting a new Air Force One plane from the autocratic monarchy of Qatar and for reportedly hiding in a catering truck to switch to a different plane in Turkey last month. — Joseph Konig, PEOPLE, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for needle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for needle
  1. syringe
  2. indicator
  3. tease
  4. dog
  5. index
  6. taunt
  7. urge
  8. bait
Noun
  • Drugmakers are now racing to deliver the same medicines without a syringe in the form of a strip.
    — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Investigators recovered syringes and a spoon next to a brown powdery substance in the bathroom, as well as a handgun, two shot glasses and a syringe on a nightstand next to the bed, the report states.
    — Tracy Wright , Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of syringe
Noun
  • And there's a very civilized rear brake light and indicator setup to boot.
    — Loz Blain October 26, New Atlas, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Pennsylvania voters are often an indicator of how the country will swing overall, and because the state is on the East Coast, Fitzpatrick's district is one to watch as returns come in.
    — Justin Papp, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of indicator
Verb
  • The collection was teased in the initial announcement for Gymshark’s campaign with Megan, who wore the SoftSense shorts in Impact Red.
    — Kanika Talwar, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Morgan had previously teased that the reality series would stream on Hulu, but Versant insiders said there were no streaming plans at the time.
    — Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of tease
Verb
  • In recent years, sustainable fashion conferences have been dogged by the same sense of frustration.
    — Bella Webb, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Hope Florida Foundation got a new board and filed tax returns, but criticisms of its efficacy still dog its leaders.
    — Christopher Spata, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of dog
Noun
  • The Nasdaq 100 has about 70% of its index weight in companies that depend on AI, from semiconductor manufacturers and Big Tech giants to cloud platforms and software providers.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026
  • This week, Indonesian equities experienced another round of panic selling, triggered by reports that major index provider MSCI is considering downgrading the country's stock market status.
    — , CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of index
Verb
  • More recently, Vega helped fund Diego Marcon’s Krapfen (2025), a film in which a child is taunted by invisible beings that sing and dance.
    — Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The woman, who also reported it to the league, alleged that Jackson refused to delete the video and taunted her with it.
    — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of taunt
Verb
  • Two strategists close to Acton’s campaign, granted anonymity to discuss its internalassessment, urged caution about the more optimistic assessment of where the contest now stands.
    — Teo Armus, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Trump has also told Kyiv to stop attacking Russian refineries and urged Ukrainians to replace Zelenskyy.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of urge
Verb
  • Pushing the ball in transition, George made contact with Detroit guard Duncan Robinson before dramatically collapsing to the floor in an Oscar-worthy attempt to bait a whistle.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026
  • In Pakistan, Choudhary told me, the workforce of the author-baiting scams is largely made up of high-school and university graduates.
    — Snigdha Poonam, The Dial, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of bait

Phrases Containing needle

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needing
needle
needled
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Cite this Entry

“Needle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/needle. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on needle

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about needle

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