heckle

C2+ Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ˈhɛkəl/ UK /ˈhɛkəl/ See IPA manual

Minimal pairs

Sounds like hackle /ɛ/ vs /æ/

Meanings

1

verb
to interrupt a speaker or performer with derisive comments

A few drunks tried to heckle the comedian off the stage.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to interrupt a speaker or... jeer taunt barrack harass badger needle

Opposites

applaud cheer praise

Word family

Derived forms hecklerhecklingheckled

Related forms hackle

Etymology

From Middle English hekelen ('to comb flax with a hatchel'), a frequentative related to hackle; the sense of badgering a speaker arose from the figurative idea of 'combing over' someone roughly.

hekelen Middle English

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# heckle

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ˈhɛkəl/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈhɛkəl/

## Meanings
1. to interrupt a speaker or performer with derisive comments

## Examples
- A few drunks tried to heckle the comedian off the stage.

## Synonyms
- jeer
- taunt
- barrack
- harass
- badger
- needle

## Antonyms
- applaud
- cheer
- praise

## Derived Forms
- heckler
- heckling
- heckled

## Related Forms
- hackle

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: hekelen

## Etymology
From Middle English hekelen ('to comb flax with a hatchel'), a frequentative related to hackle; the sense of badgering a speaker arose from the figurative idea of 'combing over' someone roughly.

## AI Etymology
Heckle comes from Middle English hekelen ('to comb flax with a hatchel'), a frequentative related to hackle; the sense of badgering a speaker arose from the figurative idea of 'combing over' someone roughly. The historical trail runs through Middle English hekelen. The later sense follows a semantic development already present in the word's history. In modern use it means to interrupt a speaker or performer with derisive comments. Derived formations include heckler, heckling, heckled; related forms include hackle.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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