Heckle

Verb

 * 1)  To question harshly in an attempt to find or reveal weaknesses.
 * 2)  To insult, tease, make fun of or badger.
 * Promise that you won't heckle me after my performance.

Synonyms for Heckle
bait, challenge, hector, harass, pester, badger, annoy, hound, molest, pursue, tease, taunt, jeer.

Antonyms for Heckle
console, help, encourage, applaud, promote, uphold, support.

Related terms

 * heckler

Thesaurus
aggravate, annoy, badger, bait, barrack, be at, bedevil, beset, bother, bristle, brown off, bug, bullyrag, burn up, card, chivy, comb, curry, devil, discomfit, discompose, disconcert, distemper, disturb, dog, embarrass, exasperate, exercise, fash, faze, get, gripe, hackle, harass, harry, hassle, hatchel, hector, hound, irk, irritate, jeer, miff, molest, nag, needle, nettle, nudzh, peeve, persecute, pester, pick on, pique, plague, pluck the beard, pother, provoke, rake, rattle, ride, rile, roil, ruffle, taunt, tease, torment, try the patience, tweak the nose, vex, worry

Etymology
Transferred usage of hekelen: (to comb flax or hemp with a heckle) < hekele: (a comb for flax or hemp) < Middle Dutch hekelen: (to prickle, irritate) <  (related to hackle)

Translations

 * Finnish: ,
 * Italian: