needled

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

While the two candidates have needled each other with personal digs and insults throughout much of the campaign, they appeared to set that energy aside during the Clovis forum and even traded some compliments.

From Los Angeles Times • May 23, 2026

Mr. Ireland indicates the uneven power dynamics involved when Leigh, though squirming at the idea, is needled into answering the same repulsive question, settling on Margaret Thatcher.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

During the July 2025 interview, there were some tense moments: Owens needled Fuentes over why he hadn’t married and started a family.

From Salon • Jan. 2, 2026

During the session in 2017, he needled Rex Tillerson - urging him to describe Russian President Vladimir Putin as a war criminal which Tillerson refused to do.

From BBC • Jan. 13, 2025

I wanted to reach out and pull him toward me, but despite my annoyance with her advice, what Ma had said about being modest needled me.

From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu