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
Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 19 Jan. 2026
Later, things get uncomfortable when a group of high school boys start hanging around the bleachers and heckling the team.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Jan. 2026
Scholes and Butt grizzle about the old times like a Mancunian version of The Muppets’ Statler and Waldorf, heckling the cast from their box seats.
—Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2026
According to several witnesses mentioned in the report, the victim and suspect had been heckling each other.
—Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 12 Jan. 2026
Jeering bluejays and cawing crows break the silence, seemingly heckling my unwelcome presence.
—Thomas Cangelosi, Hartford Courant, 4 Jan. 2026
Lorey presented videos to Fox News Digital that showed other spectators at the game heckling the girls in attendance who were there with Lorey.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2025
Also at the vigil, British Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy vowed to never stop fighting terrorism amid heckling from the crowd.
—Peter Wilkinson, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2025
Actress and comedian Heather McMahan stepped down as emcee for the Ryder Cup after she was heard heckling and cursing at golfers during the championship game over the weekend.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 29 Sep. 2025
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
The unarmed, nonviolent citizens who have been following ICE agents, blowing whistles to alert people to their presence, even heckling and mocking them, are not just trying to impede their work.
—Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 19 Jan. 2026
Later, things get uncomfortable when a group of high school boys start hanging around the bleachers and heckling the team.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Jan. 2026
Scholes and Butt grizzle about the old times like a Mancunian version of The Muppets’ Statler and Waldorf, heckling the cast from their box seats.
—Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2026
According to several witnesses mentioned in the report, the victim and suspect had been heckling each other.
—Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 12 Jan. 2026
Jeering bluejays and cawing crows break the silence, seemingly heckling my unwelcome presence.
—Thomas Cangelosi, Hartford Courant, 4 Jan. 2026
Lorey presented videos to Fox News Digital that showed other spectators at the game heckling the girls in attendance who were there with Lorey.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2025
Also at the vigil, British Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy vowed to never stop fighting terrorism amid heckling from the crowd.
—Peter Wilkinson, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2025
Actress and comedian Heather McMahan stepped down as emcee for the Ryder Cup after she was heard heckling and cursing at golfers during the championship game over the weekend.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 29 Sep. 2025
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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Another child care center director recounted how vehicles full of taunting men have driven by more than once.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
6 Feb. 2026
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Seattle Seahawks defensive back Tariq Woolen was fined $17,398 Saturday for a taunting penalty during the NFC championship game against the Los Angeles Rams.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The revelation quickly made headlines, and the social-media peanut gallery was sharply derisive.—
Emma Sandler,
Vogue,
15 Dec. 2025
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There is nothing quite like experiencing a truly terrible film with a room full of gleefully derisive bad-movie fans.—
Randy McMullen,
Mercury News,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Alongside the tape, the UK artist has also begun teasing a new album, Terrified.—
Hattie Lindert,
Pitchfork,
25 Jan. 2026
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Hana can’t shake the feeling that someone is watching her, even teasing her.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Glaser was at her best when needling awards-show tropes.—
Hershal Pandya,
Vulture,
13 Jan. 2026
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He’s repeated that sentiment in countless interviews over the years, but hearing him say it in front of his gently needling bandmates gives it a different kind of resonance.—
Jordan Runtagh,
PEOPLE,
27 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Heckling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heckling. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.
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