as in taunting
to attack repeatedly with mean put-downs or insults
the players were heckled by disappointed fans
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of heckling
Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 22 Jan. 2026
Vice President Vance appeared on FOX News Channel’s The Ingraham Angle hours after the heckling incident, telling the host about visiting with the national guardsmen and discussing recent changes to the city, while briefly mentioning the protesters.
—Jillian Frankel, People.com, 21 Aug. 2025
Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 18 May 2026
Reaves shouted at heckling fans.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 13 May 2026
Many of the attendees disrupted Percival’s speech, heckling him with jeers and boos.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 9 May 2026
Many of the attendees disrupted Percival’s speech, heckling him with jeers and boos.
—Las Vegas Review-Journal, Twin Cities, 7 May 2026
Some of the sixth graders began heckling.
—Anna Wiener, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
Electronics aside, yelling, heckling and the use of profanity are also direct violations of gallery etiquette and could result in removal from the event.
—Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 9 Apr. 2026
Jeff Probst heckling contestants during challenges.
—Kristen Geil, Outside, 24 Feb. 2026
The project drew heckling from some residents and hours of debate before passing Feb 19.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
Reuters reported that BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, who hosted the dinner of some 200 people as co-chair of the World Economic Forum, ended the dinner after the heckling incident — before dessert was served.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 22 Jan. 2026
Vice President Vance appeared on FOX News Channel’s The Ingraham Angle hours after the heckling incident, telling the host about visiting with the national guardsmen and discussing recent changes to the city, while briefly mentioning the protesters.
—Jillian Frankel, People.com, 21 Aug. 2025
Verb
As the play died down, a female fan decked out in White Sox gear reportedly began mercilessly heckling the 24-year-old outfielder.
—Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 18 May 2026
Reaves shouted at heckling fans.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 13 May 2026
Many of the attendees disrupted Percival’s speech, heckling him with jeers and boos.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 9 May 2026
Many of the attendees disrupted Percival’s speech, heckling him with jeers and boos.
—Las Vegas Review-Journal, Twin Cities, 7 May 2026
Some of the sixth graders began heckling.
—Anna Wiener, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
Electronics aside, yelling, heckling and the use of profanity are also direct violations of gallery etiquette and could result in removal from the event.
—Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 9 Apr. 2026
Jeff Probst heckling contestants during challenges.
—Kristen Geil, Outside, 24 Feb. 2026
The project drew heckling from some residents and hours of debate before passing Feb 19.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 23 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heckling
Adjective
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To get a sense of his whole deal, look no further than the half-mocking, half-earnest title of his latest album, Country!—
Jonathan Bernstein,
Rolling Stone,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Heck, every club’s supporters were taunting them this way.—
Daniel Taylor,
New York Times,
14 May 2026
-
Hide and Seek follows a new string of murders featuring a dangerous stalker who kidnaps their victims before killing them, taunting them via text in the format of a popular Danish children’s counting rhyme (though the words chosen by the killer are far more violent).—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
7 May 2026
Adjective
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Educators were fired for making insensitive comments about him on their personal social-media accounts; a firefighter in Toledo lost his job for posting a derisive eulogy on Facebook; various airline employees were suspended for disparaging Kirk online.—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
New Yorker,
29 Apr. 2026
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But this time, American allies have balked at Trump’s request to send warships to help transport oil through the strait, suggesting there is a limit to how far Europe will go to keep Trump onside in Ukraine and demonstrating the upshot of Trump’s derisive attitude toward alliances.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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With The Boys teasing a return for Aya Cash‘s Stormfront in the upcoming prequel series, Eric Kripke has no plans to retcon her motivations.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
10 May 2026
-
Shania Twain has fans buzzing after teasing a new single on social media.—
Lori A Bashian,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
Adjective
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Then, Metric’s peak came on 2009’s Fantasies, which paired needling electronics with thumping drum programming; both it and its follow-up, Synthetica, hit the top 10 on the Canadian albums chart and went platinum in Canada.—
Ethan Beck,
Pitchfork,
4 May 2026
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For power users, this sort of thing can’t help but read as needling, even petty platform quirks.—
Eric Vilas-Boas,
Vulture,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Heckling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heckling. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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