Synonyms for heckle
Most common
Definitions
- v. 1
To question harshly in an attempt to find or reveal weaknesses.
Related words
- Word family
- heckler heckling
- Is a kind of
- curb disapprove discourage pester revile
- Other spellings
- hackle
Forms
- Past participle
- heckled
e.g. heckled → interrogated, grilled, taunted, teased…
Example sentences
- grill The sausage sat long on the grill, and got burned.
- interrogate I was aware they would interrogate me.
- badger The sultan does not like the badger and the badger the sultan.
- taunt The boy continued to taunt his younger brother.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| heckle | steady | |
| grill | rising | |
| interrogate | rising | |
| badger | rising | |
| taunt | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 4 letters
- hack1, jeer1
- 5 letters
- grill1, tease1, taunt1
- 6 letters
- badger2, haggle2
- 7 letters
- barrack2
- 11 letters
- interrogate4
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (badger2 = 2 syllables).