HASSLING Synonyms: 138 Similar and Opposite Words

hassling 1 of 2

adjective

as in mocking

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hassling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of hassle

as in taunting

to attack repeatedly with mean put-downs or insults a small group of jeering protesters hassled the politically active singer at every appearance she made

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in bickering

to express different opinions about something often angrily constantly hassled with the chef over the need to cook pork thoroughly

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 hassling

Verb

Eventually, Bournemouth were so sick of Sadiki’s hassling that substitute Lewis Cook jutted an elbow at him. — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 1 Dec. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hassling

Adjective

To get a sense of his whole deal, look no further than the half-mocking, half-earnest title of his latest album, Country!

— Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 23 Sep. 2025

Definition of mocking

Verb

After jawing with Oregon players, the junior linebacker was seen taunting the Oregon sideline and celebrating on his way back to USC’s side of the field.

— Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026
Afroman went on to publish songs and music videos taunting the deputies, including one called Lemon Pound Cake that mocked the portly deputy for his apparent interest in the cake.

— Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of taunting

Verb

Like law enforcement agents everywhere, they’re disposed to bickering about jurisdiction or pumping each other for off-limits information.

— Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 21 Sep. 2026
There’s striker Josie Gordon, bickering twin sisters Siobhan and Niamh, glove-shunning goalie Katie ‘Boots’ Quinn and couple Maddie and Margy.

— Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of bickering

Adjective

There was also an August 2024 incident at Fenway when Duran hurled a homophobic slur at a heckling fan.

— Greg Dudek, Hartford Courant, 28 June 2026
Charles Barkley was once spitting mad at a heckling fan, and his expectoration wound up splashing on an 8-year-old girl.

— Jon Greenberg, New York Times, 22 May 2026

Definition of heckling

Verb

When Albin returned to the question of which country posed the greater threat to American interests, el Sayed again declined to choose between them, arguing that both had demonstrated the capacity to cause harm.

— Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 9 Oct. 2026
Claims of extensive cooperation Before sentencing, Wandner urged Altman to impose a sentence below the advisory guidelines, arguing that his client’s assistance to investigators had been unusually valuable.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of arguing

Adjective

These were actors who may have earlier been needling at or attempting to push my boundaries.

— Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026
But for those who find (and in some cases may be slightly mystified as to why) that there is a nagging, needling value to Schrader’s ongoing project of tussling with grandiose dilemmas of transgression and deliverance, there is some new news here.

— Jessica Kiang, Variety, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of needling

Verb

Yemeni government forces – backed by Saudi airstrikes and a blockade of Houthi areas – started fighting the Houthis more than a decade ago.

— Tim Lister, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2026
The Tigray Peace Force is fighting alongside federal troops against the TPLF.

— Rodney Muhumuza, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of fighting

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hassles

hassling

haste

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“Hassling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hassling. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of hassling

adjective

verb

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