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
The forests are thick with spruce, their needles a deep, musty green veiled in shadows. — Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026 The company made use of burgeoning microneedle patch technology, placing the microneedles in select designs like stars and hearts on the patch, and embedding pigments in the miniscule needles. — Avery Stone, Time, 15 Oct. 2026 The seven-step facial includes a cleanse; a professional biostimulating step applied to the skin with no needles; lifting; nano-infusion with a no-puncture tip; a cold biocellulose mask; LED, and finishing serums and SPF. — Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026 Several factors raise the risk, according to Cleveland Clinic, including a history of negative or traumatic experiences with needles and a family history of needle phobia. — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 8 Oct. 2026 In May, Tennessee officials stabbed Tony Carruthers with needles and a scalpel for more than an hour while blood streamed down his chest. — Maya Foa, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026 Peptide therapy has mostly meant injections, which is a hard sell for anyone squeamish about needles or juggling a busy routine. — Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 7 Oct. 2026 Then, inside the death house, executioners struggled to find a vein, jabbing Pike with at least seven needles, according to her lawyers, one of whom watched in dismay. — Keri Blakinger, ProPublica, 6 Oct. 2026 With wet leaves, dry leaves, and pine needles shrunk into tiny cuttings, this electric shredder is able to convert 18 bags of yard waste into one bag of nutrient-heavy mulch that can feed your gardens and landscaping. — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Oct. 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
  • These indicators can range from elevated blood pressure and abnormal blood sugar to impaired mobility or poor sleep.
    — Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The index is a weighted sum of six sub-indices that are derived from Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) data, PMI comments trackers and PMI commodity price and supply indicators that are compiled by S&P Global.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of indicators
Verb
  • The trailer for the show, which Vulture is exclusively premiering, teases two separate family dramas behind the scenes in the show’s version of the Cleveland Browns.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Transitions are constant both within and between songs, most of which include an interlude or coda that teases the next track.
    — Stephen Kearse, Pitchfork, 9 Oct. 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
  • In stock markets abroad, indexes ticked higher in Europe after a weaker finish in Asia.
    — Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The index is a weighted sum of six sub-indices that are derived from Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) data, PMI comments trackers and PMI commodity price and supply indicators that are compiled by S&P Global.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 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
  • Vision is ready to hare off after Thomas at that point, but Jarvis urges him to control his emotions.
    — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Brem urges you to advocate for yourself at the doctor's office.
    — Norah O'Donnell, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of urges
Noun
  • But the power this concentrates in the hands of one corporation and person – SpaceX and Musk – has raised alarm bells.
    — Gerard Toal, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Mix cream cheese, cheddar cheese and blue cheese in a bowl with gloved hands or in a food processor until blended.
    — Candy Hom, AJC.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of hands
Verb
  • The massive aerial operation is part of an annual operation to spread rabies vaccination baits targeting raccoons and other wildlife in the state.
    — Dan Raby, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026
  • First, Verbruggen baits Joao Pedro, who abandons Olivier Boscagli.
    — Jon Mackenzie, New York Times, 1 Sep. 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 20 Oct. 2026.

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