heckler
definition
a person who interrupts a public speaker with disparaging comments or questions
example
The comedian dealt with the heckler in the front row by turning their insults into a humorous response that had the audience laughing.
synonyms
trolldisruptorinstigator
word origin — The word 'heckler' comes from the term 'heckle', which has its roots in the early 19th-century Scottish word 'heck', meaning to interrupt or disturb. The verb 'to heckle' emerged in the theater context, referring to the act of interrupting speech.