Heckle

To interrupt a public speaker or performer with aggressive or hostile questions, challenges, or insults. Heckling is intended to disrupt the presentation and often aims to embarrass or provoke the speaker. It involves speaking out of turn, often loudly or sarcastically, and can include shouting, making disruptive noises, or offering unwanted opinions. The goal is usually to undermine the speaker's authority or message, creating a confrontational atmosphere. Effective heckling can be witty, but it is most frequently considered rude and disruptive, especially when persistent or personal. Though generally frowned upon, it is sometimes viewed as a form of participatory engagement, however negative.

Heckle meaning with examples

• During the mayoral debate, a man in the audience started to heckle the incumbent, shouting about rising taxes and corruption, which threw the speaker off for several minutes. Security had to remove him, but the disruption had a clear impact on the flow of the argument.
• The comedian struggled to continue his routine as a group in the back row began to heckle, repeatedly interrupting his jokes with boisterous comments about his material and asking him to tell different jokes. Eventually, he simply left the stage, defeated by the relentless barrage.
• At the political rally, a small group of protesters began to heckle the candidate's speech, holding up signs and chanting slogans that contradicted her platform. This tactic was designed to sabotage her ability to communicate her message to the crowd and attract media attention.
• The opera singer was accustomed to applause, but the audience started to heckle, with catcalls and boos when she began to sing. This created a difficult situation for her, but she maintained composure and continued to perform, hoping they would soon stop.
• The professor's lecture on the latest scientific discoveries was derailed as a student repeatedly heckled him with skeptical remarks and challenges to his data. This caused the class to fall behind schedule as the professor responded to the aggressive objections.