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

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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

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
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

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 needles
Noun
Some of those needles may include incredibly dim free-floating objects such as rogue planets or even small, wandering black holes, Benford said. — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026 Thus, a product that may replicate the results of injectable dermal filler without needles or a high price tag sounds pretty darn good. — Kara Nesvig, Allure, 28 Aug. 2026 So, Demorest told one of her knitting friends, who got to work with her needles. — Sara Moniuszko, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026 In addition to providing clean syringes and collecting used needles, these programs distribute the lifesaving overdose reversal medication naloxone. — Paul Christine, The Conversation, 25 Aug. 2026 Family members of patients noticed the nurse sloppily taking out IV needles but were afraid to confront her. — Alexandra Byrne, STAT, 25 Aug. 2026 Starting point for hikes into Larch Valley and Sentinel Pass are some of Banff National Park’s best (ablaze in autumn when larch needles are golden). — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Aug. 2026 If your child is frightened of needles, another option is nasal spray. — Eva Flowe august 19, Charlotte Observer, 19 Aug. 2026
Verb
McDaniel needles the other side of the ball too, James said, warning defenders to be ready for a deep pass before hitting them with a quick out. — Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026 The Velvet Gang needles the outraged Christie ever so. — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 19 May 2026 As Thea’s former suitor, Tesman struggles to call her by her married name, a slip of the tongue that Hedda constantly needles him about. — Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026 Jake needles Harry about the past 50 years, but Harry can only offer scraps of history. — Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for needles
  1. indicators
  2. teases
  3. dogs
  4. indexes
  5. taunts
  6. urges
  7. hands
  8. baits
Noun
  • Leaders should track key indicators and metrics and create alternative plans in case certain triggers are met.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Vinnie Carbone said there are many positive indicators for the future of Hartford.
    — Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of indicators
Verb
  • Davidson teases that Lawrence will make recurring cameos on the series, suggesting that the tables have now turned between the rivals, as the series is set in the present day and accounts for Lawrence’s own star power.
    — Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The special included 27 minutes of content that revealed cinematic and gameplay scenes throughout the fictional Vice City and teases the overall narrative of the game.
    — Tanya Fedak, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of teases
Verb
  • This spring, Anthropic let the robot dogs out again, but this time, an improved Claude worked alone.
    — Harry Booth, Time, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Canine transmissible venereal tumor, or CTVT, is a genital cancer that dogs pass to one another during mating.
    — John Drake, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
Definition of dogs
Noun
  • Underlying shift India's recent success in electronic manufacturing has also not been captured by top indexes.
    — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Costs are low and indexes are generally diversified, which makes maintenance easy, analysts said.
    — Medora Lee, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of indexes
Verb
  • Continue reading … -- POLITICS 'BAD LOOK' – Newsom's attack dog taunts Buttigieg over South Carolina visit as 2028 fight heats up.
    — , FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Trump routinely mocks Newsom and refers to the governor using a derogatory nickname, while Newsom taunts the president with frequent social media posts.
    — Darlene Superville, Fortune, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of taunts
Verb
  • The advisory urges drivers to slow down, use their headlights, and leave extra space between vehicles.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Still, Malwarebytes urges users to be careful when searching for GTA 6 leaks.
    — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of urges
Noun
  • That afternoon, the president, inside the exposition’s ornate Temple of Music, greeted members of the public, shaking hands and warmly inviting them to explore the fair.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Mendoza threw high to Jalen Nailor on his second play, and the ball popped into the air into the hands of San Francisco linebacker Tatum Bethune for an interception.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of hands
Verb
  • First, Verbruggen baits Joao Pedro, who abandons Olivier Boscagli.
    — Jon Mackenzie, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Specialty carp baits and tackle drive a large portion of the European recreational fishing industries sales.
    — Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of baits

Phrases Containing needles

Browse Nearby Words

needlers
needles
needless
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Cite this Entry

“Needles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/needles. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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