hassle

American  

[has-uhl] / ˈhæs əl /

noun

1. a disorderly dispute.

   Synonyms:

   scrap, row, quarrel, squabble

2. a problem brought about by pressures of time, money, inconvenience, etc..

   Finding a decent place to have lunch in this neighborhood is always a hassle.

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verb (used without object)

hassled, hassling

1. to dispute or quarrel.

   children hassling over who has the most toys.

   Synonyms:

   scrap, row, quarrel, squabble

2. to take time or effort.

   We don't want to hassle with all that waiting in line.

verb (used with object)

hassled, hassling

1. to bother, annoy, or harass.

   I'll do the work, so don't hassle me.

hassle British  

/ ˈhæsəl /

noun

1. a prolonged argument; wrangle

2. a great deal of trouble; difficulty; nuisance

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verb

1. (intr) to quarrel or wrangle

2. (tr) to cause annoyance or trouble to (someone); harass

Other Word Forms

• unhassled adjective

Etymology

Origin of hassle

First recorded in 1935–40; origin uncertain

Example Sentences

Because skipping songs on a player was a hassle, most people sat with cassette albums as a track-by-track, linear journey, the antithesis to the algorithmic, shuffle-centric playlists ubiquitous on today’s streaming platforms.

From Los Angeles Times

Why, then, would secure couples celebrate the day at all, given the hassle and expense?

From The Wall Street Journal

At first, the company used an outside coder, but back-and-forth requests were a hassle.

From Barron's

For investors who don’t want the hassle of physical ownership, ETFs are cheap and easy to buy and sell in a brokerage account.

From The Wall Street Journal

The irony is that it could turn out to not have been worth the hassle of booking Kid Rock in the first place.

From Salon

Related Words

• bickering
• commotion
• difficulty
• inconvenience
• squabble
• tumult
• wrangle