hecklers

noun

plural of heckler
as in harassers
a person who causes repeated emotional pain, distress, or annoyance to another avoided the hecklers who hung out on the street corner making threatening remarks to passersby

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hecklers That’s a little simplistic — look at San Francisco’s Scott Wiener being chased from a trans rights event by hecklers accusing him of being pro-genocide. — David Weigel, semafor.com, 1 July 2026 McIlroy was even seen stepping back from the ball to quip back at one of the hecklers, while others, including his friend Shane Lowry, were also quick to respond. — Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 23 June 2026 For Bellinger, at least, a creative exchange with some professional hecklers was more welcomed. — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026 Any comedian that’s good with dealing with hecklers lost to hecklers many, many times coming up. — Steve Appleford, SPIN, 1 June 2026 Yes, freedom of expression applies to hecklers, too. — Editorial, Boston Herald, 9 May 2026 Placard-waving hecklers who supported Barry Goldwater, the Republican nominee for president, tried to interrupt Lady Bird’s speeches at many of the stops. — Charlotte Observer, 16 Apr. 2026 Along with Al Raby, head of the Coordinating Council of Community Organizations, Jackson helped select Marquette Park as the target for a 1966 fair housing march, at which racist white hecklers infamously threw rocks, bricks and bottles and hit King in the head. — David Greising, Chicago Tribune, 26 Feb. 2026 Nanjiani, 44, became famous for stand-up comedy based on his real-life experiences, including growing up in Pakistan, moving to Iowa for college at 18, and dealing with racist hecklers as a Muslim post-9/11. — Kylie Gilbert, InStyle, 6 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hecklers
  1. harassers
  2. teases
  3. torturers
  4. tormentors
  5. attackers
Noun
  • White stars can help by publicly supporting their Black colleagues, who are especially targeted by online trolls and harassers.
    — Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Still, the star did not name her harassers.
    — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 22 May 2026
Definition of harassers
Noun
  • Following a summer of pop-up performances and musical teases, Leon Bridges is getting closer to his next chapter.
    — SPIN Staff, SPIN, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The end of Camp Rock 3 teases more could be on the way — and the Jonas Brothers are down to return.
    — Sarah Hearon, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of teases
Noun
  • Red is immediately abducted, cut open in an ambulance, and injected with pain-magnifying drugs by his torturers, while Liz accidentally murders the mysterious man surveilling her next door.
    — EW Staff, Entertainment Weekly, 25 June 2026
  • Aaron escapes his torturers, first by rooting himself in the town’s only movie theater open to Black people, and then by lying about his age and enlisting in the Navy at 16.
    — Meredith Maran, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
Definition of torturers
Noun
  • The attacks lead to the fateful events of prom night — a famous moment from King’s original— in which Carrie, who’s become aware of growing telekinetic powers, turns her abilities on her tormenters when she’s finally pushed over the edge.
    — Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 27 July 2026
  • That their tormentors were not untouchable.
    — Nazanin Boniadi, Time, 11 Mar. 2026
Definition of tormentors
Noun
  • Against autonomous attackers operating at machine speed, hours could become an eternity.
    — Emil Sayegh, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The rumor mill has linked Sporting KC to several attackers in the MLS and abroad.
    — PJ Green August 28, Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of attackers

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heckler
hecklers
heckles
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Cite this Entry

“Hecklers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hecklers. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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