Illustration of needle
- 1 suture
- 2 sewing
- 3 knitting
needle
1 of 2noun
nee·dle ˈnē-dᵊl 
1
a
: a small slender usually steel instrument that has an eye for thread or surgical sutures at one end and that is used for sewing
b
: any of various devices for carrying thread and making stitches (as in crocheting or knitting)
c(1)
: a slender hollow instrument for introducing material into or removing material from the body (as by insertion under the skin)
(2)
: an extremely thin solid usually stainless steel instrument used in acupuncture and inserted through the skin
d
: any of various slender hollow devices used to introduce matter (such as air) into or remove it from an object (such as a ball)
2
a
: a slender bar of magnetized steel that when allowed to turn freely (as in a compass) indicates the direction of a magnetic field (as of the earth)
b
: a slender usually sharp-pointed indicator on a dial
3
a
: a slender pointed object resembling a needle: such as
(1)
: a pointed crystal
(2)
: a sharp rock
(3)
: obelisk
b
: a needle-shaped leaf (as of a conifer)
c
: a slender rod (as of jewel or steel) with a rounded tip used in a phonograph to transmit vibrations from a record : stylus
d
: a slender pointed rod controlling a fine inlet or outlet (as in a valve)
4
: a teasing or gibing remark
needlelike
ˈnē-dᵊl-ˌ(l)īk
adjective needle
2 of 2verb
needled; needling
ˈnēd-liŋ,
ˈnē-dᵊl-iŋ transitive verb
1
: to sew or pierce with or as if with a needle
2
a
: tease, torment
b
: to incite to action by repeated gibes
needled the boy into a fight
intransitive verb
: sew, embroider
needler noun
ˈnēd-lər
ˈnē-dᵊl-ər 
Synonyms
Noun
- hype [slang]
- hypodermic
- hypodermic needle
- hypodermic syringe
- syringe
Verb
- bait
- hassle
- haze
- heckle
- ride
- taunt
- tease
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun I need a needle and thread to sew the button on your shirt. The needle on the scale points to 9 grams. The compass needle points north. Verb His classmates needled him about his new haircut. we needled him mercilessly for thinking that he had any chance of being the prom date for the school's most popular girl
Recent Examples on the Web
Brendan Morrow, The Week, 6 Sep. 2022 Gallup found that moving the needle on psychological safety can lead to reduction in turnover (27%) and in safety incidents (40%) and increases in productivity (12%). Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 25 Aug. 2022 Most of the Florida school board candidates backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis won their elections on Tuesday -- an indication that the ascendant Republican's conservative stance on education is moving the needle with some parents across the state. Isabella Murray, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2022 The pair has since talked about Russell’s impact in breaking down barriers and moving the needle for Black athletes. Nicole Yang, BostonGlobe.com, 1 Aug. 2022 Portman recruited actors like Eva Longoria and Jessica Chastain to attend, but that kind of passive visibility wasn’t moving the needle nearly enough for her liking. Adam B. Vary, Variety, 23 June 2022 Their wallets are feeling the burn of inflation, and low unemployment just doesn't seem to be moving the needle. Hillary Hoffower, Fortune, 3 June 2022 These marketing mavens are moving the needle at major networks and studios, bridging the gap between some of today’s top shows and films and eager audiences. Aramide Tinubu, Essence, 9 Mar. 2022 Having accurate, timely, and well-informed data is often the difference maker that allows communities to dramatically move the needle on health disparities. Bill Frist, Forbes, 18 Aug. 2022 Elise Brisco, USA TODAY, 2 July 2022 Every interaction Pete has — especially with Harry, who seems determined to needle his new acquaintance for no discernible reason — could be read as merely awkward or as actively hostile. Noel Murray, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2022 The billionaire can’t believe what an oaf his captor is, finding any excuse to needle him. Kate Knibbs, Wired, 18 Mar. 2022 The foliage has varied textures and symmetrical or asymmetrical shaped leaves that are sharp and spiky, wide and flat, broad and fleshy or needle thin, usually with a central cup. Nicole Sours Larson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2022 In declaring victory Tuesday night, each woman seemed to needle the other, telegraphing what the next several weeks will bring. BostonGlobe.com, 15 Sep. 2021 O’Neill said Charlie is likely to keep charging into his 4-year-old season to needle his elite gate-mates for at least one more lap. San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Nov. 2021 The previous tree, a Colorado blue spruce planted in October 2019, succumbed to needle cast disease, according to the National Park Service. From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 1 Nov. 2021 Queenan, whose number one job actually seems to be to needle DiCaprio's rookie undercover cop. Derek Lawrence, EW.com, 6 Oct. 2021 See More
Noun
What, did giving them the Parks and Recreation complete series box set for Christmas not move the needle? Brendan Morrow, The Week, 6 Sep. 2022 Gallup found that moving the needle on psychological safety can lead to reduction in turnover (27%) and in safety incidents (40%) and increases in productivity (12%). Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 25 Aug. 2022 Most of the Florida school board candidates backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis won their elections on Tuesday -- an indication that the ascendant Republican's conservative stance on education is moving the needle with some parents across the state. Isabella Murray, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2022 The pair has since talked about Russell’s impact in breaking down barriers and moving the needle for Black athletes. Nicole Yang, BostonGlobe.com, 1 Aug. 2022 Portman recruited actors like Eva Longoria and Jessica Chastain to attend, but that kind of passive visibility wasn’t moving the needle nearly enough for her liking. Adam B. Vary, Variety, 23 June 2022 Their wallets are feeling the burn of inflation, and low unemployment just doesn't seem to be moving the needle. Hillary Hoffower, Fortune, 3 June 2022 These marketing mavens are moving the needle at major networks and studios, bridging the gap between some of today’s top shows and films and eager audiences. Aramide Tinubu, Essence, 9 Mar. 2022 Having accurate, timely, and well-informed data is often the difference maker that allows communities to dramatically move the needle on health disparities. Bill Frist, Forbes, 18 Aug. 2022 Verb
One of the most universal terms in comedy was created by Charlie Case, who pushed the Black entertainment needle away from racist minstrelsy and blackface during the vaudeville era by forging a new path of entertainment with storytelling. Elise Brisco, USA TODAY, 2 July 2022 Every interaction Pete has — especially with Harry, who seems determined to needle his new acquaintance for no discernible reason — could be read as merely awkward or as actively hostile. Noel Murray, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2022 The billionaire can’t believe what an oaf his captor is, finding any excuse to needle him. Kate Knibbs, Wired, 18 Mar. 2022 The foliage has varied textures and symmetrical or asymmetrical shaped leaves that are sharp and spiky, wide and flat, broad and fleshy or needle thin, usually with a central cup. Nicole Sours Larson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2022 In declaring victory Tuesday night, each woman seemed to needle the other, telegraphing what the next several weeks will bring. BostonGlobe.com, 15 Sep. 2021 O’Neill said Charlie is likely to keep charging into his 4-year-old season to needle his elite gate-mates for at least one more lap. San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Nov. 2021 The previous tree, a Colorado blue spruce planted in October 2019, succumbed to needle cast disease, according to the National Park Service. From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 1 Nov. 2021 Queenan, whose number one job actually seems to be to needle DiCaprio's rookie undercover cop. Derek Lawrence, EW.com, 6 Oct. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English nedle, from Old English nǣdl; akin to Old High German nādala needle, nājan to sew, Latin nēre to spin, Greek nēn
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
circa 1715, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Phrases Containing needle
Kids Definition
needle 1 of 2
noun
nee·dle ˈnē-dᵊl
1
: a small slender pointed usually steel tool used for sewing
2
: a slender pointed piece of metal or plastic (used for knitting)
3
: a leaf (as of a pine) shaped like a needle
4
: a pointer on a dial
The needle on her gas gauge read "empty."
5
: a slender hollow instrument that has a sharp point and by which material is put into or taken from the body through the skin
needle
2 of 2verb
needled; needling
: tease entry 1 sense 1, taunt
Medical Definition
needle 1 of 2
noun
nee·dle ˈnēd-ᵊl
1
: a small slender usually steel instrument designed to carry sutures when sewing tissues in surgery
2
: a slender hollow instrument for introducing material into or removing material from the body parenterally
needle
2 of 2transitive verb
needled; needling ˈnēd-liŋ, -ᵊl-iŋ
: to puncture, operate on, or inject with a needle
needling a cataract
needled
verb
1
as in taunted
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
Relevance
- taunted
- teased
- mocked
- baited
- ridiculed
- heckled
- bothered
- hassled
- tortured
- rode
- irritated
- hazed
- annoyed
- rid
- plagued
- nettled
- badgered
- derided
- gibed
- picked on
- jeered
- goaded
- griped
- pestered
- riled
- bullied
- galled
- jibed
- aggravated
- nagged
- irked
- vexed
- tested
- exasperated
- ruffled
- chafed
- tried
- fretted
- troubled
- hounded
- tormented
- harassed
- frosted
- itched
- agitated
- bedeviled
- disturbed
- grated
- hectored
- peeved
- perturbed
- dogged
- beleaguered
- rasped
- discomforted
- got
- bugged
- spited
- made game of
- aggrieved
- persecuted
- narked
- piqued
- put out
- browbeat
- terrorized
- harried
- hagrode
- vext
- gnawed (at)
- burnt (up)
- burned (up)
- hacked (off)
2
as in hounded
to subject (someone) to constant scoldings and sharp reminders quit needling me! I'll take out the trash in a minute! Synonyms & Similar Words
- hounded
- urged
- nagged
- begged
- dogged
- badgered
- henpecked
- bothered
- picked at
- prodded
- pushed
- annoyed
- harassed
- pestered
- goaded
- baited
- irked
- pecked (at)
- insisted
- vexed
- egged
- cajoled
- spurred
- pressured
- prompted
- coaxed
- wheedled
- plagued
- exhorted
- hassled
- rid
- pleaded
- incited
- harried
- chivvied
- nitpicked
- pressed
- bugged
- rode
- importuned
- plead
- chivied
- vext
- carped (at)
- yapped (at)
- blandished
- pled
- fussed (about or over)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- complimented
- praised
- recommended
- commended
- lauded
- touted
- applauded
- extolled
- acclaimed
- built up
- eulogized