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

With navies built around corvette-class-sized ships, Finland and Sweden have successfully stood up to Russian pressure, harassing Russian submarines that have violated their territorial seas.

— HOLMES LIAO, Foreign Affairs, 4 Sep. 2026
He was inspired by the true story of Freda and Greta Chaplin, who in the 1980s stirred up a media frenzy for harassing a truck driver, and for bizarrely mirroring each other.

— Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of harassing

Verb

And nipped any indication that Williams was taunting the 45-year-old coach in the bud.

— Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 14 Sep. 2026
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

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

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

Verb

Bill Hader offered his thoughts on voice acting and artificial intelligence while teasing his next projects at the Variety Entertainment & Technology Summit presented by EY, held Thursday in Los Angeles.

— Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 18 Sep. 2026
After teasing fans on social media and in interviews for the past few months, Oasis have officially announced a 2027 tour.

— Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of teasing

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targeted

targeting

targets

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“Targeting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/targeting. Accessed 20 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of targeting

verb

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