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.
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.