Synonyms of needles

needles 1 of 2

noun

plural of needle

1

as in syringes

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

• syringes
• hypodermics
• hypodermic needles
• hypes
• hypodermic syringes

2

as in indicators

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

• indicators
• indices
• indexes
• hands
• gauges
• pointers
• gages
• dials
• faces

needles

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of needle

1

as in teases

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

• teases
• taunts
• baits
• rides
• mocks
• bothers
• hazes
• tortures
• hassles
• annoys
• picks on
• plagues
• nettles
• ridicules
• heckles
• irritates
• troubles
• ruffles
• tests
• makes game of
• itches
• bullies
• grates
• gibes
• spites
• galls
• frets
• jibes
• rasps
• tries
• gripes
• dogs
• bugs
• goads
• frosts
• badgers
• burns (up)
• narks
• peeves
• jeers
• riles
• torments
• beleaguers
• chafes
• vexes
• pesters
• aggravates
• discomforts
• disturbs
• gnaws (at)
• nags
• derides
• gets
• exasperates
• aggrieves
• piques
• irks
• hacks (off)
• puts out
• hounds
• hagrides
• agitates
• persecutes
• bedevils
• harasses
• hectors
• perturbs
• harries
• browbeats
• terrorizes

2

as in dogs

to subject (someone) to constant scoldings and sharp reminders

quit needling me! I'll take out the trash in a minute!

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dogs
• pecks (at)
• urges
• picks at
• henpecks
• hounds
• begs
• bothers
• nags
• eggs
• badgers
• spurs
• baits
• pressures
• prods
• pushes
• annoys
• plagues
• bugs
• goads
• rides
• prompts
• carps (at)
• chivvies
• harries
• fusses (about or over)
• pesters
• vexes
• harasses
• hassles
• insists
• chivies
• wheedles
• irks
• presses
• coaxes
• incites
• cajoles
• yaps (at)
• nitpicks
• importunes
• pleads
• exhorts
• blandishes

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• compliments
• recommends
• praises
• commends
• lauds
• builds up
• touts
• applauds
• extols
• acclaims
• extolls
• eulogizes

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of needles

Noun

The leaves will be skeletonized or defoliated, or the needles of conifers will be chewed down to the branches. —Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 10 Sep. 2025

Larch trees feature needles, which turn bright yellow in the fall before shedding. —Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 9 Sep. 2025

Microneedling is a treatment that uses thin, vibrating needles to puncture your skin. —Carley Millhone, Health, 9 Sep. 2025

But residue, powder and used needles were found throughout the Leavenworth apartment, according to an affidavit describing charges against the babysitter and her boyfriend. —Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 7 Sep. 2025

However, producing these needles in large numbers and making changes to them for practical devices will take more work. —Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 6 Sep. 2025

Referencing the 1980s crack epidemic, Rob Zochowski said the city’s decision to hand out needles was an outdated approach from that time period. —Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 5 Sep. 2025

Cliff is the one having needles jabbed into his gums, but Didi (Liz Larsen) might be having the worst day of the two people in this particular dental office. —Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 4 Sep. 2025

Agatha persists, creates, needles. —Rebecca Morgan Frank september 2, Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2025

Phrases Containing needles

• on pins and needles