haystack

[hey-stak] / ˈheɪˌstæk /

NOUN

stack of hay

Synonyms

STRONG

hay haycock hayrick pile rick sheaf stack

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The process can take months for a single archaeological site and often feels like searching for a needle in a haystack.

From Science Daily • May 11, 2026

Maven was built to find the needle in the haystack.

From Barron's • Apr. 5, 2026

While picking a big winner is like finding a proverbial needle in a haystack, it’s much easier than in 1926.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

Another rescue volunteer, named Justin, compared the effort to "trying to find a single hay in a haystack".

From BBC • Jul. 8, 2025

Since it had no reason to choose one haystack over the other, it just stayed in the middle until it died of hunger.

From "Small Steps" by Louis Sachar