as in to tease
to attack repeatedly with mean put-downs or insults
the principal reminded the student athletes that taunting their opponents was not showing good sportsmanship
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in jeer
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of taunt
Foreign Affairs, 19 Aug. 2025
There was the infamous taunt, pointing to her ring finger during the NCAA championship game against Iowa, moments after Reebok signed her in an initial NIL deal.
—Tiana Randall, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Bob Harkins, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
The idea of me—a completely unknown artist—standing in front of the American people and taunting them was, for me, very empowering.
—Helen Molesworth, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for taunt
Verb
Plato fled Syracuse, humiliated by the tyrants’ taunts.
—Foreign Affairs, 19 Aug. 2025
There was the infamous taunt, pointing to her ring finger during the NCAA championship game against Iowa, moments after Reebok signed her in an initial NIL deal.
—Tiana Randall, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Noun
There was yelling, taunting and cursing from fans.
—Bob Harkins, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
The idea of me—a completely unknown artist—standing in front of the American people and taunting them was, for me, very empowering.
—Helen Molesworth, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for taunt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taunt
Verb
-
Jay Som is teasing her new album Belong (out Friday) with a song featuring Hayley Williams.—
Jonathan Bernstein,
Rolling Stone,
7 Oct. 2025
-
The creative teams tease what's ahead in 2026 from IDW Dark.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Throughout the weekend, McIlroy and other European players sparred with fans, provoking the Irish golfer in at least one instance to yell back at the crowd, while others flashed middle fingers in response to the jeers.—
Anna Lazarus Caplan,
PEOPLE,
30 Sep. 2025
-
McIlroy backed away, drawing jeers, before Lowry came over to settle him.—
Brendan Quinn,
New York Times,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The drama was followed by another housemate, George, being evicted after mocking gay housemate Sam.—
Mathew Rodriguez,
Them.,
8 Oct. 2025
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The new video is part of a pattern in which DHS has increasingly deployed memes to mock migrants and popular culture.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Jacob sneers, but doesn’t even wait for his son to answer.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
15 Aug. 2025
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The single, meanwhile, is ushered in with a gripping bass line and an undercurrent of keyboards until Osbourne makes his grand vocal entrance, all sneers and snarls.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
23 July 2025
Noun
-
The insults have been flying in the back-and-forth, and there doesn’t appear to be an end in sight for at least the short term.—
Michael Saponara,
Billboard,
3 Oct. 2025
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Some others within the group interpreted Yahaya’s lyrics as an insult to the Prophet Muhammad.—
Sean Nelson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Leno later said he felt humiliated by Kimmel’s jibe.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
19 Sep. 2025
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The foolishness of the governor’s gibe was underscored by the progressive, staunchly anti-Trump Democratic mayor of San Jose.—
U T Editorial Board,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The comments were full of playful quips imagining what the pups might get up to behind closed doors.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
-
But the meeting was still often tense, with neighbors offering comments and quips while three representatives spoke.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Higher ed lobby and Newsom respond Ted Mitchell, president of the American Council on Education, which represents about 1,600 presidents of college and universities, criticized the compact as an affront on academic independence.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
2 Oct. 2025
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To further shroud the details around such operations, in what could be an effort to unilaterally bypass those laws, is an affront to the American people, who have vested warmaking powers to the Congress.—
Alexander Langlois,
Oc Register,
30 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Taunt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taunt. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.
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