hassle

1 of 2

noun

has·​sle ˈha-səl How to pronounce hassle (audio)
1
: a heated often protracted argument : wrangle
embroiling myself in a long, exasperating hassle with masonsS. J. Perelman
2
: a violent skirmish : fight
3
a
: a state of confusion : turmoil
all hassle and hurly-burlyEllery Queen
b
: an annoying or troublesome concern
avoid the hassle of filling out paperwork
flight delays and other hassles of holiday travel
too much of a hassle to bother with

hassle

2 of 2

verb

hassled; hassling ˈha-s(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce hassle (audio)

intransitive verb

: argue, fight
hassled with the umpire

transitive verb

: to annoy persistently or acutely : harass
gets hassled by the cops

Examples of hassle in a Sentence

Noun All this paperwork is a hassle. They've had to deal with flight delays and all of the other hassles of holiday travel. He got into a hassle with his landlord. Verb Other kids were always hassling her because she was overweight. I'm sick of being hassled by telemarketers. I don't have time to hassle with you about this! Just do what I tell you to do!
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Noun
Or your manager doesn’t want the hassle of having to replace you. Caroline Ceniza-Levine, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025 Despite the natural hassle that comes with packed airports and crowded planes, most travelers will still take the trip, according to Tomasz Pawliszyn, CEO of AirHelp, an online service that helps travelers seek compensation when plans are disrupted. Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 23 May 2025
Verb
And so there was Tonali harrying and hassling from the off. George Caulkin, New York Times, 12 May 2025 No, no one wants to hassle poor folks and in fact, poor folks are much more likely to be the ones suffering from the anti-social behavior that is pouring in as 311 complaints. New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 16 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hassle

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

perhaps blend of harass and hustle

First Known Use

Noun

1945, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1951, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of hassle was in 1945

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hassle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hassle. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

hassle

1 of 2 verb
has·​sle ˈhas-əl How to pronounce hassle (audio)
hassled; hassling
-(ə-)liŋ
1
: argue sense 2, dispute
hassled with the umpire
2
: to annoy continuously : harass

hassle

2 of 2 noun
1
2
3
: something that is annoying or troublesome

More from Merriam-Webster on hassle

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