Synonyms of target

target 1 of 2

noun

ˈtär-gət 

1

as in victim

a person or thing that is the object of abuse, criticism, or ridicule

the hapless vice president quickly became the favorite target of late-night comedians

Synonyms & Similar Words

• victim
• prey
• mark
• butt
• sitting duck
• goat
• mockery
• scapegoat
• laughingstock
• lightning rod
• pilgarlic
• fall guy
• whipping boy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• gossip
• troublemaker
• tattletale
• tattler
• gossiper
• tormentor
• defamer
• talebearer
• tease
• teaser
• needler
• torturer
• traducer
• taunter
• libeler
• baiter
• heckler
• insulter
• mocker
• scorner
• ribber
• libelist
• scoffer
• satirist
• parodist
• caricaturist
• derider
• lampooner
• ridiculer

2

as in joke

a person or thing that is made fun of

a badly made TV commercial that became the target of lots of jokes

Synonyms & Similar Words

• joke
• victim
• fool
• mock
• butt
• mark
• derision
• mockery
• sport
• pigeon
• sucker
• laughingstock
• jest
• monkey
• dupe
• gull
• chump
• fall guy
• sap

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• favorite
• pet
• darling

3

as in goal

something that one hopes or intends to accomplish

our target is to raise $100,000 for a new playground by August

Synonyms & Similar Words

• goal
• aim
• purpose
• plan
• object
• intent
• objective
• intention
• idea
• thing
• ambition
• dream
• meaning
• ideal
• aspiration
• point
• design
• end
• mark
• project
• name of the game
• bourne
• hope
• destination
• scheme
• pretension
• desire
• mind
• wish
• plot
• holy grail
• grail
• terminus
• nirvana

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• method
• means
• way

target

2 of 2

verb

as in to taunt

Related Words

• taunt
• harass
• needle
• bait
• rag
• bug
• torment
• pester
• harry
• tease
• mimic
• heckle
• tweak
• rib
• rally
• parody
• kid
• caricature
• satirize
• imitate
• hassle
• ride
• lampoon
• take off (on)
• barrack
• pillory
• quiz
• parrot
• catcall
• ape
• twit
• jive
• disparage
• razz
• belittle
• chaff
• scorn
• scout
• ridicule
• burlesque
• decry
• laugh (at)
• josh
• scoff (at)
• sneer (at)
• travesty
• put down
• mock
• deride
• bad-mouth
• jeer
• shoot down
• gibe
• skewer
• pooh-pooh

Dissimilar Words

• approve
• endorse
• commend
• sanction
• applaud

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of target

Noun

Still pushing for the roster, second-year wide receiver Andrew Armstrong drew the most targets on the night, turning eight chances into five receptions for a team-leading 54 yards. — Kansas City Star, 29 Aug. 2026

While the rendezvous target was deployed as planned and tracked by radar, Mission Control called the demo off when the pressure glitch occurred because the fuel cells were key to power Gemini 5 for its full 8-day mission. — Tariq Malik, Space.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Verb

In 2021 – in the midst of a diplomatic crisis between Morocco and Spain – Moroccan authorities allegedly ordered the use of Pegasus to target the phones of the Spanish Ministers of Foreign Affairs, the Interior, and Defense. — Miguel MacIas, NPR, 16 Aug. 2026

That can include things like using AI to analyze a company’s website to figure out who to target or deploying an AI agent to handle initial negotiation talks with a cyber extortion victim. — Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2026