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Taunt vs. Taut
Taunt and taut may easily be confused. The words are similar in spelling and pronunciation, though the resemblance does not extent to their syntax or meanings. Taut is an adjective that is most often used to refer to something that is pulled tight, like "a taut rope," or is bulging or filled to capacity, like "taut muscles." Taunt is a noun and a verb that refers to teasing or making fun of a person. That the two words sound similar creates confusion, and taunt, being the more common word, is sometimes substituted for taut. You can remember the difference between the two by remembering that tight and taut both lack the n of taunt.
Examples of taunt in a Sentence
Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2025
One possession after Doncic was thrown out after his second technical, Orr called Vanderbilt for a taunting technical foul after blocking Alex Caruso’s shot at the rim.
—Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2025
EW.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Conway said the video was posted while Maldonado was in a rival gang’s territory as a taunt.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for taunt
Cite this Entry
“Taunt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/taunt. Accessed 28 Apr. 2025.
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