targeting

verb

present participle of target
as in harassing

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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 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
  1. harassing
  2. taunting
  3. tormenting
  4. baiting
  5. pestering
  6. bugging
  7. hassling
  8. teasing
Verb
  • Moreno asked the Ohio judge overseeing the case to grant a restraining order that would prohibit Miller from harassing, physically touching, and/or verbally or electronically threatening Moreno’s counsel.
    — Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 31 July 2026
  • Baldoni denied ever harassing Lively or retaliating against her.
    — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 31 July 2026
Definition of harassing
Verb
  • Gunther once again took his attention away from Aldis by taunting Aldis’ wife—WWE Hall of Famer Mickie James—and his son Donovan.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The ancient namesake ammunition detailed by researchers at Spain’s Autonomous University of Barcelona is only the latest example of Roman soldiers’ penchant for taunting their enemies from afar.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 30 July 2026
Definition of taunting
Verb
  • The final scene shows the Bowden family grilling in that same backyard on a sunny day, seemingly happy with Max no longer tormenting them.
    — Benjamin VanHoose, PEOPLE, 31 July 2026
  • Picture LeBron in his advanced age tormenting the Knicks one more time, denying them a two-peat, before beating the Spurs or Thunder in the finals.
    — Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 30 July 2026
Definition of tormenting
Verb
  • Below, in the second half of the same game, the two holding midfielders (yellow) and full-backs (white) both stay deep, baiting the press.
    — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 30 July 2026
  • Better Than a Scammer Laurent Giovannoni is a principal software engineer at Filigran, a threat intelligence platform, and will present code for ScamBuster, a scam-baiting program designed to waste scammers’ time and energy.
    — Kim Key, PC Magazine, 30 July 2026
Definition of baiting
Verb
  • 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
  • Bonner brought the bull market with him to CSUF, bringing his pressing, pestering and passionate style of play to a fanbase starved for success.
    — Brian Robin, Oc Register, 8 June 2026
Definition of pestering
Verb
  • The necessity of the trip at all is what's been bugging me.
    — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 12 June 2026
  • His doctor had been bugging him for years to get a colonoscopy because of his age, but Driggers declined.
    — The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 June 2026
Definition of bugging
Verb
  • Eventually, Bournemouth were so sick of Sadiki’s hassling that substitute Lewis Cook jutted an elbow at him.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 1 Dec. 2025
Definition of hassling
Verb
  • Cardi shared on Instagram after teasing the song earlier this week.
    — Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 31 July 2026
  • In the comments section of Beer’s Instagram post teasing the video, her parents, Robert and Tracie Beer, voiced their support for the couple.
    — Nasha Smith, PEOPLE, 28 July 2026
Definition of teasing

Browse Nearby Words

targeted
targeting
targets
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Cite this Entry

“Targeting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/targeting. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on targeting

Nglish: Translation of targeting for Spanish Speakers

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