hassle

1 of 2

noun

has·​sle ˈha-səl 

1

: a heated often protracted argument : wrangle

embroiling myself in a long, exasperating hassle with masons

—S. J. Perelman

2

: a violent skirmish : fight

3

a

: a state of confusion : turmoil

all hassle and hurly-burly

—Ellery Queen

b

: an annoying or troublesome concern

avoid the hassle of filling out paperwork

flight delays and other hassles of holiday travel

too much of a hassle to bother with

hassle

2 of 2

verb

hassled; hassling ˈha-s(ə-)liŋ 

intransitive verb

: argue, fight

hassled with the umpire

transitive verb

: to annoy persistently or acutely : harass

gets hassled by the cops

Synonyms

Noun

• brush
• encounter
• run-in
• scrape
• skirmish

Verb

• bait
• haze
• heckle
• needle
• ride
• taunt
• tease

Examples of hassle in a Sentence

Noun

All this paperwork is a hassle.

They've had to deal with flight delays and all of the other hassles of holiday travel.

He got into a hassle with his landlord.

Verb

Other kids were always hassling her because she was overweight.

I'm sick of being hassled by telemarketers.

I don't have time to hassle with you about this! Just do what I tell you to do!

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Companies such as Amazon, Walmart and Target have decided some items are not worth the cost or hassle of getting back. —Jason Ma, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2024

Though fares tend to be on the pricier side, taking a taxi will save the hassle of navigating the island's twisting mountain highways and narrow valley passes, which are sure to send your blood pressure soaring. —Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 2 Nov. 2024

Verb

This makes two consecutive murder investigations where Elsbeth and Kaya know they won’t be hassled for doing their jobs. —Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2024

Officers will be visible on every street around the convention center, and will be in parking areas to keep ballot-counting staff from being hassled or an aggressive crowd from interfering with counting the ballots. —Sarah D. Wire, USA TODAY, 31 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

perhaps blend of harass and hustle

First Known Use

Noun

1945, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1951, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Kids Definition

hassle

1 of 2 verb

has·​sle ˈhas-əl 

hassled; hassling

-(ə-)liŋ

1

: argue sense 2, dispute

hassled with the umpire

2

: to annoy continuously : harass

hassle

2 of 2 noun

1

: argument sense 2

2

: fight entry 2 sense 1a

3

: something that is annoying or troublesome