Hassle — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈha-səl/ has·sle

Meaning & Definition of Hassle

Hassle (noun)

  1. a heated often protracted argument, wrangle
  2. a violent skirmish, fight
  3. a state of confusion, turmoil

Hassle (verb)

  1. argue, fight
  2. to annoy persistently or acutely, harass

Hassle (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a brief clash between enemies or rivals

    "the best way to avoid hassles with those aggressive panhandlers is to ignore them"

    similar: brush, encounter, run-in, scrape, skirmish
    related: argument, fight, quarrel, row, spat, squabble, tiff, battle, brawl, fray, wrangle

  2. a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups

    "the moment the police arrived, the hassle broke up, and no one was seriously injured"

    similar: battle, clash, combat, conflict, contest, dustup, fight, fracas, fray, scrap, scrimmage, scrum, scuffle, skirmish, struggle, tussle
    related: pitched battle, rough-and-tumble, affray (chiefly British), battle royal, brawl, broil, donnybrook, free-for-all, melee, mix-up, ruckus, ruction, blows, fistfight, fisticuffs, grapple, handgrips, punch-out, punch-up (chiefly British), slugfest, confrontation, duel, face-off, joust, altercation, argle-bargle (chiefly British), argument, argy-bargy (chiefly British), contretemps, controversy, cross fire, disagreement, dispute, falling-out, kickup, misunderstanding, quarrel, row, spat, squabble, tangle, tiff, wrangle, catfight
    near: truce

  3. an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions

    "had a huge hassle with an airline representative before she got her ticket refunded"

    similar: altercation, argle-bargle (chiefly British), argument, argy-bargy (chiefly British), battle royal, bicker, brawl, contretemps, controversy, cross fire, disagreement, dispute, donnybrook, falling-out, fight, imbroglio, kickup, misunderstanding, quarrel, rhubarb, row, scrap, set-to, spat, squabble, tiff, wrangle
    related: clash, run-in, skirmish, tangle, tussle, logomachy, feud, vendetta, attack, contention, dissension, debate, difference, disputation, fuss, objection, protest, protestation, affray (chiefly British), fisticuffs, fracas, fray, free-for-all, melee, catfight

  4. something that is a source of irritation

    "it's a hassle to find a parking space downtown"

    similar: aggravation, aggro (British), annoyance, bother, botheration, bugbear, exasperation, frustration, hair shirt, headache, inconvenience, irk, irritant, nuisance, peeve, pest, rub, ruffle, thorn, trial, vexation
    related: discomfort, fleabite, pinprick, affront, insult, offense, upset, worry, affliction, albatross, burden, cross, curse, menace, millstone, plague, sore, anxiety, plight, predicament, tribulation, trouble, hang-up, pet peeve, problem, annoyer, disturber, harasser, mischief, offender, pandora's box
    near: delight, joy, pleasure

Hassle (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to attack repeatedly with mean put-downs or insults

    "a small group of jeering protesters hassled the politically active singer at every appearance she made"

    similar: bait, haze, heckle, needle, ride, taunt, tease, make game of, pick on
    related: deride, gibe, jeer, mock, ridicule, annoy, bother, bug, burn (up), chafe, fret, frost, gall, get, gnaw (at), grate, gripe, hack (off), hagride, irk, irritate, itch, nag, nark (British), nettle, peeve, pester, pique, put out, rasp, rile, ruffle, spite, trouble, vex, aggravate, exasperate, goad, test, try, aggrieve, agitate, bedevil, beleaguer, discomfort, disturb, perturb, badger, dog, hound, browbeat, bully, hector, harass, harry, persecute, plague, terrorize, torment, torture

  2. to express different opinions about something often angrily

    "constantly hassled with the chef over the need to cook pork thoroughly"

    similar: altercate, argue, argufy, bicker, brabble, brawl, controvert, dispute, fall out, fight, jar, quarrel, quibble, row, scrap, spat, squabble, tiff, wrangle, bandy words, butt heads, lock horns, mix it up
    related: challenge, dare, defy, clash, contend, contest, tangle, cavil, fuss, nitpick, consider, debate, discuss, kick, object, protest
    near: coexist, get along, accept, agree, assent, concur, consent

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Hassle

The most common words with a similar meaning to Hassle:

Chiefly British: argle-bargle, argy-bargy
British: aggro
brush, encounter, run-in, scrape, skirmish, battle, clash, combat, conflict, contest, dustup, fight, fracas, fray, scrap, scrimmage, scrum, scuffle, struggle, tussle, altercation, argument, battle royal, bicker, brawl, contretemps, controversy, cross fire, disagreement, dispute, donnybrook, falling-out, imbroglio, kickup, misunderstanding, quarrel, rhubarb, row, set-to, spat

Related Words for Hassle

pitched battle, rough-and-tumble, affray, broil, free-for-all, melee, mix-up, ruckus, ruction, blows, fistfight, fisticuffs, grapple, handgrips, punch-out, punch-up, slugfest, confrontation, duel, face-off, joust, tangle, catfight, logomachy, feud, vendetta, attack, contention, dissension, debate

Near Antonyms of Hassle

truce, delight, joy, pleasure, coexist, get along, accept, agree, assent, concur, consent

Word Forms of Hassle

Inflections: hassled, hassling

Origin & Etymology of Hassle

perhaps blend of harass and hustle

First known use: 1945

Frequently Asked Questions about Hassle

What does "Hassle" mean?

"Hassle" means a heated often protracted argument, wrangle. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: a heated often protracted argument, wrangle. It has 6 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Hassle"?

Other words for "Hassle" include brush, encounter, run-in, scrape, skirmish, battle, clash and combat. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Hassle" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Hassle"?

There are 217 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Hassle". Common alternatives include brush, encounter, run-in, scrape, skirmish, battle, clash, combat, conflict and contest.

How do you use "Hassle" in a sentence?

Examples of "Hassle" in a sentence: "the best way to avoid hassles with those aggressive panhandlers is to ignore them"; "the moment the police arrived, the hassle broke up, and no one was seriously injured"; "had a huge hassle with an airline representative before she got her ticket refunded".

Is "Hassle" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Hassle" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Hassle"?

"Hassle" is pronounced /ˈha-səl/ and divided into syllables as has·sle.

What is the origin of the word "Hassle"?

"Hassle" comes from perhaps blend of harass and hustle. First known use: 1945.

What is another word for "Hassle" meaning "a brief clash between enemies or rivals"?

When "Hassle" (noun) means a brief clash between enemies or rivals, synonyms include brush, encounter, run-in, scrape and skirmish.