Griefer

In multiplayer video games, a griefer is a player whose primary objective is not to win, but to harass other players. Griefers go out of their way to troll their teammates and/or their opponents, by purposefully performing antagonistic behaviors.

Some examples of griefing include:

• Playing incredibly slowly to waste other players' time
• Purposefully killing teammates with friendly fire
• Stealing other players' items or kills
• Destroying other players' creations in sandbox games (like Minecraft)
• Sharing teammates' positions with opponents

Often, griefing involves using a game element or mechanic in an abusive or unintended way. For example, in a game in which players can message their teammates, griefers may spam distasteful messages, turning a normally-helpful feature into an annoyance.