hassle

hassle — noun

1. something that causes annoyance or inconvenience because it takes more time or e

1.nounB1
Definition

something that causes annoyance or inconvenience because it takes more time or effort than expected.

Example

Returning the faulty printer was such a hassle that Dewi almost kept it.

such a hassle that + clause for intensity

Moving to a new apartment involves a lot of paperwork and hassle.

Common collocations
  • be a hassle
  • save the hassle of
  • go through the hassle of
  • without any hassle
  • major hassle
Synonyms
  • trouble

    more general; hassle implies active annoyance

  • bother

    slightly milder than hassle

  • inconvenience

    more formal, less emotional

  • nuisance

    focuses on irritation rather than effort

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

be a hassle

have the hassle of + [gerund]

Usage Note

Often appears in the fixed expressions 'save the hassle (of)' and 'without any hassle' to describe avoiding inconvenience.

Common Mistakes

I had a hassle to finish the homework on time.
I had trouble finishing the homework on time.
'hassle' describes an annoying situation, not an internal struggle or difficulty with a task.

2. an instance of arguing or fighting between people, often noisy or tense.

2.nounB2
Definition

an instance of arguing or fighting between people, often noisy or tense.

Example

What started as a minor hassle over parking turned into a loud argument.

hassle over + [topic] for describing the cause

Emre got into a hassle with a stranger who cut in line at the cinema.

Common collocations
  • get into a hassle
  • have a hassle with
  • hassle over
  • avoid a hassle
Synonyms
  • quarrel

    more common and neutral

  • dispute

    more formal, can be legal

  • row

    British English, similar intensity

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

have a hassle with + [someone]

get into a hassle over + [something]

Usage Note

Commonly paired with the verbs 'get into', 'have', or 'avoid' to describe entering or sidestepping a disagreement.

Common Mistakes

We had a hassle about what to eat for dinner.' (too trivial — hassle suggests a real conflict).
We had a hassle about who would pay the repair bill.
Use 'hassle' for meaningful disagreements, not everyday choices.

hassle — verb

Word family

  • hassled
    adjectiveB2
  • hassle-free
    adjectiveB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe something unwelcome, but they differ in what they emphasise. 'Trouble' is the broadest — it can cover effort, worry, or difficulty of any kind ('The car has been giving me trouble'). 'Bother' is milder and more about minor irritation than real effort ('Sorry for the bother'). 'Inconvenience' is the most formal, often used in polite apologies or customer service contexts ('We apologise for any inconvenience'). 'Nuisance' focuses on annoyance rather than effort, often used for people or things that disturb peace ('The neighbour's dog is a nuisance'). 'Hassle' combines the effort of trouble with the irritation of nuisance: it is something that forces you to do extra work that feels unfair or irritating, like dealing with bureaucracy or returning a faulty product.

trouble ↗bother ↗inconvenience ↗nuisance ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

Phrases

  • be a hassle
  • cause hassle
  • have a hassle
  • save the hassle
  • without any hassle
  • get into a hassle

Prepositions

Etymology

EnglishAmerican English

The word 'hassle' first appeared in American English around the 1940s–1950s. It is thought to be a blend of 'haggle' (to argue over terms) and 'tussle' (a vigorous struggle or fight), which together capture both the 'annoying effort' and 'argument' meanings the word carries today.