target 1 of 2

noun

ˈtär-gət How to pronounce target (audio)
Definition of targetnext
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

target

2 of 2

verb

as in to taunt

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of target
Noun
Damari Brown started opposite Frederique, played 55 snaps and allowed only two of seven targets to be caught, but for 34 yards. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2026 Arsenal will meet one of their transfer targets this weekend in Chelsea’s Morgan Rogers, and Arteta has a few minor fitness concerns to consider ahead of the game. — Art De Roché, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Verb
The dollar-for-dollar retaliation would target steel, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, pulp and paper and electronics. — CBS News, 22 Aug. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for target
Recent Examples of Synonyms for target
  1. victim
  2. joke
  3. goal
  4. taunt
  5. prey
  6. fool
  7. aim
  8. harass
Noun
  • The brothers previously faced rape and human trafficking charges in Britain in connection to three alleged victims, CPS said.
    — Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026
  • The special, produced in collaboration with the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, will honor the victims killed, and commemorate the resilience of the survivors, families, first responders, and communities whose lives were forever altered by the attacks.
    — Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of victim
Noun
  • In their new home, the past clings to Everton; restless, a bad joke, craving more, loud, glorious.
    — George Caulkin, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • The vice president warned during the event that her threat was not a joke.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of joke
Noun
  • Drake Maye's deep shot intended for Romeo Doubs near the goal-line was broken up by safety Rodney Thomas II, and the carom was eventually intercepted by Nehemiah Pritchett.
    — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 10 Sep. 2026
  • This pattern is likely to continue away to Manchester United in the third round of the Carabao Cup next week — Steele kept goal at Old Trafford for a 2-1 win in the third round of the FA Cup in January.
    — Andy Naylor, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of goal
Verb
  • The big house sat clear, taunting their one‑room shack with its size, her children somewhere swallowed in the expansiveness of the land.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Continue reading … -- POLITICS 'BAD LOOK' – Newsom's attack dog taunts Buttigieg over South Carolina visit as 2028 fight heats up.
    — , FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of taunt
Noun
  • As its common name suggests, the giant huntsman spider actively hunts its prey, and its diet includes insects as well as small rodents and reptiles.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Rattlesnakes fill an important niche in the area’s ecosystem by targeting prey that other predators cannot access.
    — Haley Parsley, Sacbee.com, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of prey
Noun
  • Set the scene Upon entering, don't let the grandiose, atrium-esque, white-marbled lobby fool you into thinking there's an ounce of formality or stuffiness here.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Anhor The Great had so many pass breakups that counting would’ve been a fool’s errand.
    — Caleb Otte, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of fool
Noun
  • Both drivers were told to stop yo-yoing positions and to instead work together to pull clear of the Red Bull, with the aim of clinching the team’s 1-2 result before settling their own fight at the end.
    — Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • What was your way in there and why was that subject specifically something that felt so pertinent to your larger aims?
    — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of aim
Verb
  • Instead, local communities have learned how the law enforcement agencies themselves have been misusing the technology to, in some cases, stalk and harass their citizens.
    — Irene Wright, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The haters have hacked the store’s website, harassed its hosts, spread rumors about its owner, and threatened to show up in force in front of its physical store.
    — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of harass

Browse Nearby Words

tardy
target
targeted
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Cite this Entry

“Target.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/target. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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