heckle
9 synonyms and 2 antonyms for heckle, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To interrupt a speaker or performer with mocking comments or aggressive questions.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use heckle
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
heckle the speaker
get heckled
hecklers in the crowd
Etymology
Originally meant "to comb out flax with a heckle," a toothed tool for separating fibers. The word later shifted to mean tearing into a speaker's arguments the same way you'd comb through flax.
Full origin of heckle →Frequently asked questions
What does “heckle” mean?
The word “heckle” means to interrupt a speaker or performer with mocking comments or aggressive questions. In plain terms, shouting rude comments or tough questions at someone speaking in public to throw them off or embarrass them.
How do you pronounce “heckle”?
“Heckle” is pronounced HEH-kuhl (/ˈhɛkəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “heckle” in a sentence?
Here is “heckle” used in a sentence: “Protesters heckled the politician throughout his speech.”
What is another word for “heckle”?
Words with a similar meaning to “heckle” include badger, gird, barrack, jeer, roast and taunt.
What is the opposite of “heckle”?
The opposite of “heckle” — its antonyms — are cheer and incite.
What part of speech is “heckle”?
“Heckle” is a verb.
