heckles

Shouts down comedians

Heckles are the hackles—the erectile hairs along an animal's back that rise when threatened or agitated.

The spelling heckles appears mainly in the phrase raise someone's heckles, meaning to provoke irritation or defensiveness: His dismissive tone raised my heckles.

The standard spelling is hackles.

interruption

outburst

Sudden emotional release

shoutLoud vocal outburst
interjectionEmotional outcry word class
catcallHarassing shout or whistle

yell · holler · disruption · disturbance · commotion · uproar · clamor · outcry · noise · distraction

mockery

jeer

Vocal expression of scorn

ridiculeContemptuous mocking treatment
tauntInsulting provocation
sneerScornful expression

derision · scorn · scoffing · jeering · taunting · gibe · jibe · insult · barb · razzing

Categories

mockerymockery, ridiculing, jeers, jeering, jibes
mocksmocks, teases, ridicules, taunts, jeers

Opposites

audience response type

hecklesapplauds

Claps in appreciation

cheers · applause · cheering · ovation · acclaims

communication intent

hecklescompliments

Expressions of admiration

praises · endorses · encourages · validates · affirms

Family

heckle, heckler, heckling, heckled, hecklers

Familiarity: Top 500,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Negative · Everyday, not technical · Rated PG