1
as in teasing
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 nagging
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
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Recent Examples of needling
Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2026
In cases of significant thinning, Small recommends procedures like platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy or micro-needling.
—Rebecca Strong, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026
Then, again, the needling cold.
—Roey Leonardi, The Atlantic, 22 Feb. 2026
He’s repeated that sentiment in countless interviews over the years, but hearing him say it in front of his gently needling bandmates gives it a different kind of resonance.
—Jordan Runtagh, PEOPLE, 27 Nov. 2025
Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 12 Mar. 2026
The woman needling the Cubs, hands at her head, was the daughter of the Braves coach.
—Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
For power users, this sort of thing can’t help but read as needling, even petty platform quirks.
—Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2026
In cases of significant thinning, Small recommends procedures like platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy or micro-needling.
—Rebecca Strong, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026
Then, again, the needling cold.
—Roey Leonardi, The Atlantic, 22 Feb. 2026
He’s repeated that sentiment in countless interviews over the years, but hearing him say it in front of his gently needling bandmates gives it a different kind of resonance.
—Jordan Runtagh, PEOPLE, 27 Nov. 2025
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
The woman needling the Cubs, hands at her head, was the daughter of the Braves coach.
—Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for needling
Adjective
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To get a sense of his whole deal, look no further than the half-mocking, half-earnest title of his latest album, Country!—
Jonathan Bernstein,
Rolling Stone,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Morgan Rogers fired wide from the ensuing chance, yet the sweeping move — teasing passes before going through the gears as play progressed upfield — was what Villa often desire, but can sometime lack.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2026
-
The footage, revealed on April 22, adopts a dark and scary tone, teasing a body horror film that will be a total departure from anything fans have seen from the DC Universe so far.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Realmuto has dealt with nagging back and foot injuries this season.—
Tom Dougherty,
CBS News,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Marsh declined to offer specifics regarding the lower body injuries nagging Stevens and Westbeld, neither of whom participated in scrimmaging during the final half-hour of training camp made available to the media.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Myrsiades said Hennessey spotted a white Mercedes SUV linked to a suspect accused of making bomb threats and taunting local law enforcement agencies.—
Madeleine Wright,
CBS News,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Then, guards who worked for the contractor Critical Response Strategies began taunting detainees, threatening to enter the cage where immigrants were held.—
Garrett Shanley,
Miami Herald,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Shortly after the ruling, Republicans were urging a review of their congressional maps in Louisiana, Tennessee and elsewhere.—
Nicholas Riccardi,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
-
On Monday, Bloomberg News reported that around 600 Google workers sent a letter to CEO Sundar Pichai urging him to refuse new AI partnerships with the Pentagon.—
Jared Perlo,
NBC news,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Reuters reported that BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, who hosted the dinner of some 200 people as co-chair of the World Economic Forum, ended the dinner after the heckling incident — before dessert was served.—
Ashleigh Fields,
The Hill,
22 Jan. 2026
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Vice President Vance appeared on FOX News Channel’s The Ingraham Angle hours after the heckling incident, telling the host about visiting with the national guardsmen and discussing recent changes to the city, while briefly mentioning the protesters.—
Jillian Frankel,
People.com,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
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At times texts showed Diamantis hounding them for his payment and threatening to remove them from school jobs if he wasn’t paid.—
Dave Altimari,
Hartford Courant,
20 Apr. 2026
-
San Diego is where Pitino’s basketball ghosts, after hounding him for decades, were sent far away, perhaps for good.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Educators were fired for making insensitive comments about him on their personal social-media accounts; a firefighter in Toledo lost his job for posting a derisive eulogy on Facebook; various airline employees were suspended for disparaging Kirk online.—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
New Yorker,
29 Apr. 2026
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But this time, American allies have balked at Trump’s request to send warships to help transport oil through the strait, suggesting there is a limit to how far Europe will go to keep Trump onside in Ukraine and demonstrating the upshot of Trump’s derisive attitude toward alliances.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
16 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Needling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/needling. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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