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
Relevance
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
Josh Meyer, USA Today, 7 June 2025
The taunts followed a Game 1 in which Beasley repeatedly initiated contact with Jalen Brunson, even during stoppages, and punctuated 3-pointers with a celebratory shimmy.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2025
Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 6 July 2025
Jake Paul and Julio César Chávez Jr. have taunted each other for weeks, asserting their superiority while dismissing allegations Paul has brokered deals with opponents to fix fights and that Chávez is too far past his prime for a return to the ring follow a stint in rehab.
—Iliana Limón Romero, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for taunt
Verb
Some suffered similar legal attacks and other slings and arrows, including Trump taunts and his trademark nasty nicknames.
—Josh Meyer, USA Today, 7 June 2025
The taunts followed a Game 1 in which Beasley repeatedly initiated contact with Jalen Brunson, even during stoppages, and punctuated 3-pointers with a celebratory shimmy.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2025
Noun
For weeks, Musk has taunted President Trump, threatening to form a third party ahead of midterm elections after the passage of the GOP spending package.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 6 July 2025
Jake Paul and Julio César Chávez Jr. have taunted each other for weeks, asserting their superiority while dismissing allegations Paul has brokered deals with opponents to fix fights and that Chávez is too far past his prime for a return to the ring follow a stint in rehab.
—Iliana Limón Romero, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for taunt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taunt
Verb
-
The ending might seem pleasingly final, but watch for a predictable and quite unnecessary post-credits sting that sets up the Fantastic Four’s return with a cliffhanger and teases the return of a very familiar character.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
22 July 2025
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Interestingly, Google is also teasing new offers for the Pixel 10.—
Janhoi McGregor,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
Noun
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And while both teams seem to be better off for the move, with each leading their respective divisions, Yankee fans are likely going to welcome Soto's return with boos and jeers.—
Peter Chawaga,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 May 2025
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Seemingly every time Messi touched the ball, the crowd reacted in unison, more so with cheers than jeers.—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
16 May 2025
Verb
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He was previously mocked on social media during a loss to Austin Peay in November, when the Fox College Hoops broadcast showed Clark sitting in the stands.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
19 July 2025
-
The longtime litigator mocked the Mexican president's response.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
18 July 2025
Noun
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Up front, its face is a far more rectilinear sneer.—
Brett Berk,
Robb Report,
8 July 2025
-
Yungblud’s voice — a piercing yelp that exists somewhere between Gerard Way’s wail and Brian Molko’s sneer — slotted him in the alt-rock world, but his aspirations seemed to stretch far beyond that categorization.—
Maura Johnston,
Rolling Stone,
21 June 2025
Noun
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And the gratuitous insults—to NATO allies, the European Union, the BRICs, the United Nations, or the World Health Organization—continue to flow from the president.—
MARGARET MACMILLAN,
Foreign Affairs,
21 July 2025
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The Steals and Deals segment on the WFTV newscasts are annoying and an insult to the viewers!—
Ticked Off,
The Orlando Sentinel,
20 July 2025
Noun
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That’s no diss at all, but Sound and Fury is such a different thing and the lineups feel so organic and exciting.—
Josh Chesler,
Los Angeles Times,
11 July 2025
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Co-written by Mustard, the searing Drake diss spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Hot 100, swept all five of its Grammy nominations, and became the first-ever rap song to spend 52 consecutive weeks on Billboard’s marquee singles chart.—
Kyle Denis,
Billboard,
9 June 2025
Noun
-
Roy Keane’s ‘prawn sandwiches’ jibe had interesting origins.—
Michael Walker,
The Athletic,
15 Mar. 2025
-
But even some Republicans weren’t happy with the nasty gibe.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
6 Mar. 2025
Noun
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But a long-ago quip to four volunteers at No. 16 continues to shape his experience at Edgewood.—
Daniel Brown,
New York Times,
11 July 2025
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The Princess of Wales, 43, made the quip in reference to her kids, Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7, at Colchester Hospital on July 2.—
Janine Henni,
People.com,
3 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Taunt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taunt. Accessed 2 Aug. 2025.
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