Antonyms for needling

Grammar : Verb

Spell : need-l

Phonetic Transcription : ˈnid l

Definition of needling

Origin : Old English nædl, from Proto-Germanic *næthlo (cf. Old Saxon nathla, Old Norse nal, Old Frisian nedle, Old High German nadala, German Nadel, Gothic neþla "needle"), literally "a tool for sewing," from PIE *net-la-, from root *(s)ne- "to sew, to spin" (cf. Sanskrit snayati "wraps up," Greek nein "to spin," Latin nere "to spin," German nähen "to sew," Old Church Slavonic niti "thread," Old Irish snathat "needle," Welsh nyddu "to sew," nodwydd "needle") + instrumental suffix *-tla.
To seke out one lyne in all hys bookes wer to go looke a nedle in a meadow. [Thomas More, c.1530]
Meaning "piece of magnetized steel in a compass" is from late 14c. (on a dial or indicator from 1928); the surgical instrument so called from 1727; phonographic sense from 1902; sense of "leaf of a fir or pine tree" first attested 1797. Needledom "the world of sewing" is from 1847. Needle's eye, figurative of a minute opening, often is a reference to Matt. xix:24.

verb tease, annoy

Example sentences :

Chewing the scriber and needling his brain, he slowly built up a list of other possibilities.
Extract from : « Deathworld » by Harry Harrison

On and on went the five, needling, pressing at every weak spot, trying to break him down.
Extract from : « The Penal Cluster » by Ivar Jorgensen (AKA Randall Garrett)

He jerked his head up so fast that something in his neck cracked, needling pain up into his temples and forehead.
Extract from : « Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town » by Cory Doctorow

The chairman explained that the infrequent meetings were used mostly for "needling people and asking for statistics."
Extract from : « Integration of the Armed Forces, 1940-1965 » by Morris J. MacGregor, Jr.

And naturally Marina was needling him all the time to buy an automobile.
Extract from : « Warren Commission (9 of 26): Hearings Vol. IX (of 15) » by The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy

Apart from an impression, as a matter of fact you were present and knew she was needling him to purchase an automobile?
Extract from : « Warren Commission (9 of 26): Hearings Vol. IX (of 15) » by The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy

The results are somewhat similar to those obtained by needling, but the clot formed on the large coil of wire is more extensive.
Extract from : « Manual of Surgery » by Alexis Thomson and Alexander Miles

If ligation is found to be impracticable, the Moore-Corradi method or Macewen's needling may be tried.
Extract from : « Manual of Surgery » by Alexis Thomson and Alexander Miles

Needling or acupuncture consists in piercing the nerve at intervals in the buttock and thigh with long steel needles.
Extract from : « Manual of Surgery » by Alexis Thomson and Alexander Miles

Synonyms for needling

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019