heckle

verb

heck·​le ˈhe-kəl 

heckled; heckling ˈhe-k(ə-)liŋ 

transitive verb

: to harass and try to disconcert with questions, challenges, or gibes : badger

Synonyms

• taunt
• tease
• mock

Choose the Right Synonym for heckle

bait, badger, heckle, hector, chivy, hound mean to harass by efforts to break down.

bait implies wanton cruelty or delight in persecuting a helpless victim.

baited the chained dog

badger implies pestering so as to drive a person to confusion or frenzy.

badgered her father for a car

heckle implies persistent annoying or belligerent interruptions of a speaker.

drunks heckled the stand-up comic

hector carries an implication of bullying and domineering.

football players hectored by their coach

chivy suggests persecution by teasing or nagging.

chivied the new student mercilessly

hound implies unrelenting pursuit and harassing.

hounded by creditors

Examples of heckle in a Sentence

Several protesters were heckling the speaker at the rally.

The players were being heckled by the fans.

People in the crowd were booing and heckling as she tried to speak.

Recent Examples on the Web

After the game, a Diamondbacks spokesperson told the Arizona Republic that Marte was upset because a fan had heckled him about Elpidia Valdez, who died in a car accident in the Dominican Republic. —Sean Neumann, People.com, 25 June 2025

The vast majority of fans never would think of heckling a player. —Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2025

The incident occurred during a road game against Vaqueros de Bayamón at Coliseo Rubén Rodríguez, where Cousins became the target of heckling from a nearby spectator. —Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 10 June 2025

Protesters who defied the order to stay away, assembled in front of the Roybal federal building, heckling National Guard members and police within earshot. —Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 9 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English hekelen to dress flax, scratch, from heckele hackle; akin to Old High German hāko hook — more at hook

First Known Use

circa 1825, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for heckle

• decal
• freckle
• meckel
• shekel
• speckle
• thecal

Kids Definition

heckle

verb

heck·​le ˈhek-əl 

heckled; heckling -(ə-)liŋ 

: to interrupt with questions or comments usually with the intention of annoying or hindering

were heckling the speaker

heckler

-(ə-)lər 

noun