needling

N1E1E1D2L1I1N1G2
/ˈniːdlɪŋ//ˈnid(ə)lɪŋ/

noun

A needy person.

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Meanings

needling1

nounneedling (plural needlings)

plural needlings

  1. A needy person.

needling2

verb
  1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of needle
nounneedling (plural needlings)

plural needlings

  1. The act of one who needles or annoys.

    […] it is a steady drip drip of small imperceptible needlings and irritations, coming day after day between a man and his wife, […]

    2017, Paul Chrystal, When in Rome: Social Life in Ancient Rome

Origin

needling · noun

From need + -ling.

Full word history & related roots →

needling · verb, noun

  1. Proto-Indo-European*(s)neh₁-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*(s)néh₁tlom
  3. Proto-Germanic*nēþlą
  4. Proto-Germanic*nēþlō
  5. Proto-West Germanic*nāþlu
  6. Old Englishnǣdl
  7. Middle Englishnedle
  8. Englishneedle
  9. Englishneedling

From needle + -ing.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

needling. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/needling

MLA

“needling.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/needling. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “needling,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/needling.

Source: needling on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.