as in searched
to look through (as a place) carefully or thoroughly in an effort to find or discover something
the owner of the bed-and-breakfast often trolls antique stores for furniture and knickknacks
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Recent Examples of trolled
After last week’s debate, there was lots of social media posturing about who won and who trolled whom the best.
—
Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
Beltrán trolled his own teammate on national television by drawing fake hair on his head with it.
—Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2026
The theory spawned after the pair spent New Year's Eve together as part of promo and persisted when ABC executive Rob Mills and then-Bachelor host Chris Harrison trolled Bachelor Nation by neither confirming nor denying the rumor as the season aired.
—Sarah Hearon, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Apr. 2026
Cornyn has defended the bipartisan gun law, has chided Hunt over missing votes in Washington and relentlessly trolled Paxton over his divorce, allegations of infidelity and issues surrounding his impeachment.
—Gromer Jeffers Jr, Dallas Morning News, 23 Feb. 2026
Charania recently reported that Antetokounmpo was in blockbuster trade talks; the Milwaukee Bucks then trolled ESPN’s insider after the trade deadline.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026
In the two days after Pretti died, Bovino relentlessly trolled Democrats who condemned the shooting—and defended Border Patrol agents as the real victims.
—Donald Moynihan, The Atlantic, 3 Feb. 2026
Newsom has trolled Trump for months with social media barbs, delighting some Democratic loyalists who have pushed party leaders and potential 2028 candidates to take a harder line.
—Dave Goldiner, Mercury News, 20 Jan. 2026
At the same time, trolled relentlessly before his September 2024 arrest.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 6 Dec. 2025
Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
Beltrán trolled his own teammate on national television by drawing fake hair on his head with it.
—Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2026
The theory spawned after the pair spent New Year's Eve together as part of promo and persisted when ABC executive Rob Mills and then-Bachelor host Chris Harrison trolled Bachelor Nation by neither confirming nor denying the rumor as the season aired.
—Sarah Hearon, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Apr. 2026
Cornyn has defended the bipartisan gun law, has chided Hunt over missing votes in Washington and relentlessly trolled Paxton over his divorce, allegations of infidelity and issues surrounding his impeachment.
—Gromer Jeffers Jr, Dallas Morning News, 23 Feb. 2026
Charania recently reported that Antetokounmpo was in blockbuster trade talks; the Milwaukee Bucks then trolled ESPN’s insider after the trade deadline.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026
In the two days after Pretti died, Bovino relentlessly trolled Democrats who condemned the shooting—and defended Border Patrol agents as the real victims.
—Donald Moynihan, The Atlantic, 3 Feb. 2026
Newsom has trolled Trump for months with social media barbs, delighting some Democratic loyalists who have pushed party leaders and potential 2028 candidates to take a harder line.
—Dave Goldiner, Mercury News, 20 Jan. 2026
At the same time, trolled relentlessly before his September 2024 arrest.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 6 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trolled
Verb
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As the Timberwolves desperately searched for an equalizer in the final five minutes, Notre Dame goaltender Kendra DeLawter stood tall in net, robbing two point-blank attempts to preserve the lead for the Cougars.—
Brendan Connelly,
Boston Herald,
9 May 2026
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When blood was found on a neighbor’s garbage can, police searched the Revere Road house but found nothing.—
Gloria Casas,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
Verb
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The building is full of character, having at turns been home to a book press, bank, and, most appropriately, the founding headquarters of the Danish Spirit Producers.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 May 2026
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The letter, sent Friday, comes amid a high-stakes legal battle currently playing out in an Oakland federal courtroom between onetime partners Altman and Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, who in 2015 co-founded the AI company best known for creating ChatGPT.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
Verb
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As the story goes, this particular treasure hunter spent several days in those harsh conditions, carefully following a pre-determined grid pattern to ensure every square foot of the desertscape was scanned.—
Robb Report Studio,
Robb Report,
8 May 2026
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The agency scanned an area, including three glaciers that form the main front ends of the Northeast Greenland Ice Stream (NEGIS) from January to March, and analyzed the changes that occurred over that period.—
Julia Gomez,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
Verb
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Sources close to the investigation told 60 Minutes police combed through security footage and cellphone data from near Van Gaver's property and from a dozen other robberies.—
Sharyn Alfonsi,
CBS News,
26 Apr. 2026
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To help you get started, CNBC Select combed through dozens of auto insurers and based our analysis on cost, customer service, and other factors.—
Liz Knueven,
CNBC,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Trolled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trolled. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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