TARGETING Synonyms: 63 Similar and Opposite Words

targeting

verb

present participle of target

as in harassing

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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 targeting Taylor, a fluid 6-foot-5, is already the Jets’ second-best receiver and plays with a quarterback, Justin Fields, who is prone to targeting tight ends — fifth-highest tight end target rate since 2021, and Cole Kmet had a career-high 719 yards with Fields as his quarterback in 2023. — Jacob Robinson, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for targeting

Verb

The Lincoln-Way East High School board voted to allow six students accused of racially harassing students from Homewood-Flossmoor to withdraw.

— Darius Johnson, CBS News, 18 Sep. 2026
Koumas did not stop running until he was substituted after 82 minutes, harrying and harassing the experienced centre-back duo of Marco Senesi and Tosin Adarabioyo while also providing an outlet.

— Andy Jones, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of harassing

Verb

Afroman went on to publish songs and music videos taunting the deputies, including one called Lemon Pound Cake that mocked the portly deputy for his apparent interest in the cake.

— Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 22 Sep. 2026
At Texas Tech, an undergraduate was arrested after taunting a Kirk mourner.

— Benjamin Wofford, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of taunting

Verb

Of the many thoughts tormenting Víctor Eduardo is how Julio died.

— Claire Healy, Miami Herald, 11 Sep. 2026
Aside from tormenting the sole out transgender member of Congress by waging a campaign to bar her from using the women’s bathroom in the Capitol, Mace had been a side player that year.

— Annie Karni, Vogue, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of tormenting

Verb

It may be overlooked, considering how comfortable Suzuki appears when carrying out Unai Emery’s ploy of his backline baiting an opponent’s press, but at Parma, he was required to kick mostly long.

— Aston Villa, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Another day, another millennial-nostalgia-baiting sequel to a classic late 1990s or early 2000s movie.

— Lauren O’Neill, Vogue, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of baiting

Verb

Children became the sales force, pestering their parents for the latest product.

— Andrew Silow-Carroll, Sun Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026
In the clip shared on social media, the bird appears poised to go after a second player before veering off at the last moment, then continues pestering several others on the field until the referee is forced to pause the game.

— Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of pestering

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targeted

targeting

targets

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Style

“Targeting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/targeting. Accessed 27 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of targeting

verb

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