noun
- persistent teasing or annoying criticism
Usage: informal
verb
- present participle of needle: to tease or annoy persistently
Usage: informal
Examples
- His constant needling about her cooking finally made her angry.
- Stop needling your little brother about his grades.
- The comedian’s needling of politicians drew both laughs and criticism.
- She was needling him about his messy room again.
- The needling from his teammates motivated him to practice harder.
- He couldn’t resist needling her about her favorite team’s loss.