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

Starting over with a new tax preparer is such a hassle.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026

If you want to save time and hassle, the knowledge base is a good place to start.

From Salon • Mar. 13, 2026

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

From Barron's • Feb. 13, 2026

A: Cap-weighting is a major hassle, even if you’re not changing the shares all the time.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 10, 2026

“But you did. You didn’t let those guys hassle Alex.”

From "A Good Kind of Trouble" by Lisa Moore Ramée

Related Words

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