Catcalled

/ˈkætˌkɔːld/ verb

Definition

Past tense of catcall; made catcalls at someone, or was subjected to catcalls and whistling.

Etymology

Past tense and past participle of the verb 'catcall,' formed with the regular '-ed' ending.

Kelly Says

The term 'catcalled' has become a focus of activism and social awareness because it highlights how street harassment disproportionately affects women and how language about this behavior has evolved to call out what was once normalized.

Ethical Language Guidance

Gender History

The experience of being catcalled is predominantly gendered—over 80% of women report street harassment. This linguistic framing reflects gendered power dynamics in public space.

Inclusive Usage

Use 'catcalled' with awareness that it describes a gendered harassment experience. Acknowledge the target's perspective rather than normalizing the behavior.

Inclusive Alternatives

["harassed","subjected to street harassment"]

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.