needle 1 of 2

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

needle

2 of 2

verb

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
Agatha persists, creates, needles. Rebecca Morgan Frank september 2, Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2025 If approved by the FDA, orforglipron will offer a needle-free alternative. Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Verb
Kahn, an immigrant from Laos who loves to needle Hank for being a hillbilly, was voiced by a white actor, Toby Huss, during King of the Hill’s original Fox run, which ended in 2009. Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 8 Aug. 2025 One ayatollah in particular, Ruhollah Khomeini, needled the Shah incessantly. Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for needle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for needle
Noun
  • It's supplied in a compact 30-ml syringe and can be quickly applied in the field before a patient bleeds out, a risk responsible for more than 35% of all prehospital deaths.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2025
  • As Prater raises his weapon to fire at Dexter, Harrison sticks the syringe deep inside his chest.
    Nick Caruso, TVLine, 5 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Bilosi says one surefire indicator of uneven extraction is deep channeling in the coffee bed that looks like someone burrowed a few narrow holes all the way down.
    Noah Kaufman, Bon Appetit Magazine, 4 Sep. 2025
  • The rump and the ears are other indicators.
    Tim Kelly, Outdoor Life, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Speaking on a panel, Erik from Sharabati Denim teased an upcoming project that will re-wire how the company procures cotton.
    Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 9 Sep. 2025
  • The game doesn’t yet have a firm release date, with only a vague 2026 window teasing its launch on PlayStation 5 and PC.
    Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Whistleblower allegations and production quality concerns have dogged the company, but Grant noted that Boeing has introduced improvements that airlines are beginning to see firsthand.
    Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Lower Basin states, including Arizona, have put forward a new concept, but that plan has run into many of the same conflicts that dogged the Lower Basin’s previous proposal.
    Austin Corona, AZCentral.com, 5 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The price of gold topped $3,500 per troy ounce for the first time in history on Tuesday, the latest milestone in an especially strong 2025 that has seen the metal gain some 35 percent while outpacing both stock indexes and major cryptocurrencies.
    Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025
  • The map forecasts wave height, winds, max temperature, UV index and more information on currents, water quality and incident statistics.
    Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The user who tweeted the video, @SMHIghlights1, taunted Sanders for wanting the starting quarterback job because Cleveland lost, and instead of joining in on the mockery, several fans in the comment section actually applauded Sanders for being a good teammate.
    Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
  • In addition to Carter’s disqualification, Nolan Smith was flagged for taunting and roughing the quarterback.
    Zach Berman, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Social media has never been a fair gauge of how a wider fanbase feels about anything.
    Beren Cross, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
  • There's a simple digital gauge cluster for the driver, framed on either side by what the brand's calling Quattro flaps.
    Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Even Will clocks the fact that Rachel’s trying to bait Keanu a bit.
    Nick Caruso, TVLine, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Thus, complementary approaches such as acoustic monitoring, baited remote cameras, and tagging studies, are still needed to build an accurate understanding of shark populations and movements.
    Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Needle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/needle. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

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