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

Explanation

Something that is bothersome or annoying can be called a hassle. It's a huge hassle to go back to the grocery store after unloading fifteen bags and realizing you forgot milk. The noun hassle can also refer to an argument or a scuffle. If you get into a hassle at school, you're likely to be called into the principal's office. As a verb, hassle means to annoy or harass repeatedly or chronically. If a bully is constantly hassling you, you should report them.

Example Sentences

No one really wants the hassle of driving through Brooklyn on a Friday afternoon, no matter what they are driving.

From Barron's • May 3, 2026

“There’s a recognition that this is a hassle, this is suboptimal, we don’t want the war,” Ladner said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

This goes back to the hassle of itemizing donations.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 11, 2026

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

From Salon • Mar. 13, 2026

I’m standing before my friends, my classmates, and a pretty fair chunk of my town—a town I plunged into a lot of hassle with my stupid, thoughtless actions.

From "Linked" by Gordon Korman

Related Words

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