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Trolling - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

Trolling is the act of deliberately provoking or upsetting others online by posting offensive, controversial, or misleading comments, often to disrupt discussions or elicit strong reactions.

trolling

/ˈtroʊlɪŋ/ /ˈtrəʊlɪŋ/

Definition:

Deliberately provoking others online by posting inflammatory or offensive content.

Synonyms:

baiting, provoking, harassing, antagonizing

Part of Speech:

noun, verb

Antonyms:

praising, complimenting

Common Collocations:

internet trolling, online trolling, troll accounts, trolling behavior

Derivatives:

troll, trolled

Usage Tips:

Use "trolling" to describe disruptive online behavior; avoid conflating it with lighthearted teasing or joking.

Common Phrases:

feeding the trolls, don't feed the trolls, troll bait

Etymology:

Originates from Old Norse "troll," meaning a mythical creature; adapted to describe disruptive online behavior in the 1990s.

Examples:

  • 1. He enjoys trolling people in comment sections for fun.
  • 2. Trolling can lead to serious consequences like account bans.
  • 3. She ignored the trolling and reported the user instead.
  • 4. Some forums have strict rules against trolling behavior.

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