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noun Uncommon

trolling

TRO-lihng

Trolling (noun) means the act of posting deliberately provocative content online to upset people or derail discussion. Example: “The moderators cracked down on trolling in the group chat.”

noun
1
The act of posting deliberately provocative content online to upset people or derail discussion.
"The moderators cracked down on trolling in the group chat."
2
A fishing technique in which a baited line is dragged behind a slow-moving boat.
"They spent the morning trolling for tuna."

How to use trolling

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishDeliberately winding people up online, or a method of fishing with a trailed line.

Common mistake

Not to be confused with "trawling," which uses a net rather than a single baited line.

Easily confused with

Word forms

trollings plural

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The moderators cracked down on _____ in the group chat.

Related words

Rhymes for trolling

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Frequently asked questions

What does “trolling” mean?

The word “trolling” means the act of posting deliberately provocative content online to upset people or derail discussion. In plain terms, deliberately winding people up online, or a method of fishing with a trailed line.

How do you pronounce “trolling”?

“Trolling” is pronounced TRO-lihng (/ˈtɹoʊlɪŋ/ in IPA).

How do you use “trolling” in a sentence?

Here is “trolling” used in a sentence: “The moderators cracked down on trolling in the group chat.”

What part of speech is “trolling”?

“Trolling” is a noun.

Is “trolling” a common word?

“Trolling” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “trolling” have?

“Trolling” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the act of posting deliberately provocative content online to upset people or derail discussion.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial