needle 1 of 2

1
as in syringe
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in indicator
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

needle

2 of 2

verb

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of needle
Noun
But while Zuckerberg claims that hosting that kind of content doesn't move the needle much anymore, owning the biggest platforms that people use daily to connect with friends and family obviously still matters to Meta, MeWe founder Mark Weinstein told Ars. ArsTechnica, 21 May 2025 Darker pigments like soot were pricked into their skin with needles tied together. Serena Billett, Charlotte Observer, 20 May 2025
Verb
The Defender’s large footprint is justified by its considerable luggage capacity, but at the end of the day, the challenges of needling the 110 through narrow roadways and squeezing it into tight parking spots can become a chore. Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 1 Apr. 2025 The Defender’s large footprint is justified by its considerable luggage capacity, but at the end of the day, the challenges of needling the 110 through narrow roadways and squeezing it into tight parking spots can become a chore. Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 1 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for needle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for needle
Noun
  • The city has programs in place that pass out clean needles, with a syringe access program operating seven days a week.
    Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 6 May 2025
  • Restylane is currently $650 per syringe at Well Medical Arts.
    Ashlyn Robinette, People.com, 24 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Information is more valuable than gold, so unusual transparency or sudden opaqueness are significant indicators of impending shifts.
    John Pierce, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
  • Social media following is just one indicator of marketability.
    Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 21 May 2025
Verb
  • In a Zoom conversation prior to the release of Reacher Season 3 in February, Ritchson and Sten playfully teased the possibility.
    Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
  • Joy Behar teased, snapping Goldberg out of her short snooze.
    Emlyn Travis Published, EW.com, 22 May 2025
Verb
  • Fighting his corner all the while is dogged Australian human rights lawyer Jen Robinson and Stella Moris, another loyal member of his legal team, who eventually became Assange’s wife, and mother to two of his children.
    Guy Lodge, Variety, 22 May 2025
  • In fact, in one area that has dogged most American public schools, the military schools have stood out.
    Anna Mulrine Grobe, Christian Science Monitor, 20 May 2025
Noun
  • The index advanced for 16 months consecutively from August 2020 to December 2021.
    Steve Banker, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
  • The university’s index of consumer sentiment is down almost 30% since January.
    Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 1 June 2025
Verb
  • Soon, a malevolent fetch -- his ghostly double -- emerges, taunting him with hallucinations of his dead son and dragging him toward the brink of madness.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 22 May 2025
  • Noted, But Not Personal After the Pacers eliminated the Knicks last season, Myles Turner went viral for parading through New York City and taunting Knicks fans.
    Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 19 May 2025
Noun
  • Wall Street’s fear gauge, the CBOE Volatility Index, surged more than 15%.
    John Towfighi, CNN Money, 21 May 2025
  • In the most classic format, the gauge readout mimics an analog speedometer and tachometer, with fuel level and coolant temp readouts alongside any active cruise control modes, warning lights and other critical driver info.
    Michael Teo Van Runkle, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
Verb
  • Trump administration live updates Republicans also criticized Democrats for twice baiting CBO into hypothetical analyses that were not necessarily intended to be published.
    John Parkinson, ABC News, 12 May 2025
  • What if family pets were baited to die by spears, crossbows and AR-15s?
    Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Needle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/needle. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

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