heckle

verb

heck·​le ˈhe-kəl How to pronounce heckle (audio)
heckled; heckling ˈhe-k(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce heckle (audio)

transitive verb

: to harass and try to disconcert with questions, challenges, or gibes : badger
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The scene turned tense when one fan began heckling Kelce, allegedly shouting an anti-gay slur referencing his brother, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, over his relationship with pop star Taylor Swift. Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2024 At Thom Yorke's recent solo show in Melbourne, Australia, the singer walked off the stage after being heckled about the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. Jade Gomez, People.com, 31 Oct. 2024 Radiohead and the Smile singer Thom Yorke paused a recent solo concert in Melbourne, Australia, after being heckled by a pro-Palestine member of the audience. Matthew Strauss, Pitchfork, 31 Oct. 2024 There’s a dramatic staged heckling at the start of your special. Alexandra Schwartz, The New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for heckle 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of heckle was circa 1825

Dictionary Entries Near heckle

Cite this Entry

“Heckle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heckle. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

heckle

verb
heck·​le ˈhek-əl How to pronounce heckle (audio)
heckled; heckling -(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce heckle (audio)
: to interrupt with questions or comments usually with the intention of annoying or hindering
were heckling the speaker
heckler noun

More from Merriam-Webster on heckle

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!