hassle

[has-uhl]Informal.

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noun

a disorderly dispute.
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.

verb (used without object), has·sled, has·sling.

to dispute or quarrel: children hassling over who has the most toys.
to take time or effort: We don't want to hassle with all that waiting in line.

verb (used with object), has·sled, has·sling.

to bother, annoy, or harass: I'll do the work, so don't hassle me.

Origin of hassle

First recorded in 1935–40; origin uncertain

Related formsun·has·sled, adjective

Synonyms for hassle

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1, 3. squabble, quarrel, row, scrap.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for hassle

squabble, tumult, inconvenience, commotion, wrangle, difficulty, bickering, annoy, pester, whirl, clamor, tussle, turmoil, upset, bother, run-in, disagreement, argument, try, trial

Examples from the Web for hassle

Contemporary Examples of hassle

For the Chinese government, it's another way to hassle the Arab and African communities that live and work in Guangzhou.
Chinese Getting Hooked on the Middle East's Favorite Drug
Brendon Hong
October 20, 2014
But shaving quickly became a hassle; the tedious measure of the day at work ahead.
Leo, the Beard Has to Go: When a Man’s Facial Hair Reaches Crisis Point
Tim Teeman
September 22, 2014
Yes, there is some hassle involved in going to the store, purchasing bacon, taking it home, cooking it, and cleaning up afterward.
Doc Says No to Soylent
Russell Saunders
May 13, 2014
For people with high incomes, rising insurance rates are a hassle.
The Obamacare Death Spiral
David Frum
November 4, 2013
She's making a new calculation: if she is going to have all the hassle of being a royal, she might as well make a few quid too.
How Do The Royals Solve a Problem Like Pippa?
Tom Sykes
July 9, 2013

Historical Examples of hassle

That done, they walked to Hassle station, and took the first train to Hull.
The Pit Prop Syndicate
Freeman Wills Crofts
A hassle started, and the editor called the Honolulu police.
The Unnecessary Man
Gordon Randall Garrett
"That's enough," Muller cut through the beginnings of the hassle.
Let'em Breathe Space
Lester del Rey
He'd obviously got himself into a hassle maintaining his place in line against two or three heftier would-be soldiers.
Mercenary
Dallas McCord Reynolds
Who told you that there was a hassle between this guy and Slack?
Warren Commission (10 of 26): Hearings Vol. X (of 15)
The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy

British Dictionary definitions for hassle

hassle

noun

a prolonged argument; wrangle
a great deal of trouble; difficulty; nuisance

verb

(intr) to quarrel or wrangle
(tr) to cause annoyance or trouble to (someone); harass

Word Origin for hassle

C20: of unknown origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for hassle

1945, American English, perhaps from U.S. Southern dialectal hassle "to pant, breathe noisily" (1928), of unknown origin; or perhaps from hatchel "to harass" (1800), which may be a variant of hazel, the name of the plant that furnished switches for whippings. Noted in 1946 as a show biz vogue word.

1951, from hassle (n.). Related: Hassled; hassling.