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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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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!
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of needle
Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
The union also moved the needle forward in a minor capacity on the residual and AI front, as well as minimum rate increases.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 24 Apr. 2026
Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 12 Mar. 2026
Eugenio Suárez, from Venezuela, jokingly cheered for Canada to needle his teammates.
—Devon Henderson, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for needle
Noun
Roise said to help protect against damage from wildfires, residents should clear any potential fuel like bushes, pine needles or propane tanks away from their homes.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
The union also moved the needle forward in a minor capacity on the residual and AI front, as well as minimum rate increases.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 24 Apr. 2026
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
Eugenio Suárez, from Venezuela, jokingly cheered for Canada to needle his teammates.
—Devon Henderson, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for needle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for needle
Noun
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Testing of the syringe, which had fallen to the ground when Kazmierczak was tackled, showed a mixture of water and apple cider vinegar.—
Nick Ferraro,
Twin Cities,
7 May 2026
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Notably, the strategy makes no mention of syringe exchange, seen as an important tool in preventing infectious disease from injection drug use and offering low-barrier connections to medical treatment.—
Lev Facher,
STAT,
6 May 2026
Noun
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Runser referenced indicators in manufacturing showing the sector is expanding, which is supportive of future freight demand.—
Dylan Sherman,
Arkansas Online,
28 Apr. 2026
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The index is a future indicator of lease signings about a year or more out.—
Diana Olick,
CNBC,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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As a new filmmaker offering a new take on Leatherface more than 50 years after the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Curry Barker recently teased his plans for the reboot.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
2 May 2026
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In an interview for Rolling Stone’s Future of Music series, the trio teased their evolving sound.—
Maya Georgi,
Rolling Stone,
1 May 2026
Verb
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Then he was dogged by rumors that his Netflix road-trip docuseries with former One Direction mate Louis Tomlinson went belly-up because the two got into a verbal and then physical argument that tanked the show.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
1 May 2026
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For Swift, the criticism that dogged her career ultimately sparked some of her biggest hits.—
Lauryn Overhultz,
FOXNews.com,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Stock market indices fell, and oil prices rose on news of the UAE attacks, raising investors' fears that the war's impact on the global economy could be exacerbated or prolonged.—
Kevin Breuninger,
CNBC,
4 May 2026
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In the past two years, Argentina’s ranking has plummeted on a press freedom index maintained by Reporters Without Borders, the group reported last week.—
Isabel Debre,
Los Angeles Times,
4 May 2026
Verb
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For a brief moment, there was a new 48-hour countdown taunting us on Taylor Swift’s website.—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
1 May 2026
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Newsom taunts Trump with multiple jabs as Florida redistricting fight ramps up.—
,
FOXNews.com,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Don't take water from live wells and bait buckets to any other water body.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
3 May 2026
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Diners aren’t baiting first-bite TikTok reaction shots.—
Bill Addison,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But Sam Schoenburg, a member of the 19th Police District Council, also on the North Side, urged aldermen to move ahead with the vote.—
Jake Sheridan,
Chicago Tribune,
6 May 2026
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While there have been no reports of illness, authorities urge people to contact a health care provider for any concerns.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
PEOPLE,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Needle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/needle. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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