Needle — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈnē-dᵊl/ nee·dle

Meaning & Definition of Needle

Needle (noun)

  1. a small slender usually steel instrument that has an eye for thread or surgical sutures at one end and that is used for sewing
  2. any of various devices for carrying thread and making stitches (as in crocheting or knitting)
  3. a slender hollow instrument for introducing material into or removing material from the body (as by insertion under the skin)

Needle (verb)

  1. to sew or pierce with or as if with a needle
  2. tease, torment
  3. to incite to action by repeated gibes

Needle (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. 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"

    similar: hype (slang), hypodermic, hypodermic needle, hypodermic syringe, syringe

  2. 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"

    similar: hand, index, indicator, pointer
    related: dial, face, gauge

Needle (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. 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"

    similar: bait, hassle, haze, heckle, 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 subject (someone) to constant scoldings and sharp reminders

    "quit needling me! I'll take out the trash in a minute!"

    similar: dog, henpeck, hound, nag, peck (at), pick at
    related: carp (at), fuss (about or over), nitpick, annoy, badger, bait, bother, bug, chivy, harass, harry, hassle, irk, pester, plague, ride, vex, yap (at), egg, goad, incite, prod, prompt, spur, urge, exhort, insist, press, pressure, push, blandish, cajole, coax, wheedle, beg, importune, plead
    near: compliment, commend, laud, praise, recommend, tout, acclaim, applaud, build up, eulogize, extol

Related Entry: Hypodermic needle (noun)

Hypodermic needle is a different word from Needle. The synonyms below are for hypodermic needle, not for needle.

  1. a slender hollow instrument by which material is put into or taken from the body through the skin

    "doesn't mind getting shots as long as he doesn't catch sight of the hypodermic needle"

    similar: hype (slang), hypodermic, hypodermic syringe, needle, syringe

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Needle

The most common words with a similar meaning to Needle:

Slang: hype
hypodermic, hypodermic needle, hypodermic syringe, syringe, hand, index, indicator, pointer, bait, hassle, haze, heckle, ride, taunt, tease, dog, henpeck, hound, nag, peck (at), make game of, pick on, pick at

Related Words for Needle

dial, face, gauge, 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, nark, nettle, peeve, pester, pique

Near Antonyms of Needle

compliment, commend, laud, praise, recommend, tout, acclaim, applaud, build up, eulogize, extol

Word Forms of Needle

Inflections: needled, needling

Derived words: needlelike (adjective), needler (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Needle

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: before 12th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Needle

Words & Phrases Containing Needle

needle drop, needle-nose pliers, Adam's needle, darning needle, devil's darning needle, hypodermic needle, a needle in a haystack, knitting needle

Frequently Asked Questions about Needle

What does "Needle" mean?

"Needle" means a small slender usually steel instrument that has an eye for thread or surgical sutures at one end and that is used for sewing. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: a small slender usually steel instrument that has an eye for thread or surgical sutures at one end and that is used for sewing. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Needle"?

Other words for "Needle" include hype, hypodermic, hypodermic needle, hypodermic syringe, syringe, hand, index and indicator. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Needle" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Needle"?

There are 107 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Needle". Common alternatives include hype, hypodermic, hypodermic needle, hypodermic syringe, syringe, hand, index, indicator, pointer and bait.

How do you use "Needle" in a sentence?

Examples of "Needle" in a sentence: "the nurse inserted the needle into his vein and collected some blood for testing"; "simply by reading the compass needle you should be able to figure out in which direction we're heading"; "we needled him mercilessly for thinking that he had any chance of being the prom date for the school's most popular girl".

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

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

Is "Needle" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B1-level word, "Needle" is typical of Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET), IELTS band 4.0–5.0, TOEFL iBT 42–71, PTE Academic 43–58, TOEIC Listening & Reading 550+.

How do you pronounce "Needle"?

"Needle" is pronounced /ˈnē-dᵊl/ and divided into syllables as nee·dle.

What is the origin of the word "Needle"?

"Needle" comes from 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: before 12th century.