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

Google announced recently that its investment in nearby Loudoun County, which included two data centers, created around 150 direct jobs, a figure that data center opponents say isn't worth the hassle. —CBS News, 5 Dec. 2024

Designed for convenience and comfort, these OTC hearing aids are perfect for anyone who wants to improve their hearing without the hassle. —Kasey Caminiti, USA TODAY, 30 Nov. 2024

Verb

In Japan, they are known for duping ticket inspectors on trains, disrupting convenience stores and hassling passengers on the subway. —Stella Kim, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024

For the past century, just like the rest of us, literary characters have been squeezed, smashed and hassled. —Erica Ackerberg, New York Times, 29 Aug. 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