1
as in victims
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in jokes
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in goals
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of targets
Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 23 Jan. 2026
Analyst sentiment remains cautiously optimistic for the long term, with consensus price targets indicating possible upside from current levels—but only if Peloton can steer its trajectory towards sustained growth and profitability.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
During the exercise, the destroyer successfully acquired submarine targets and transmitted a large amount of data back in real time.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 23 Jan. 2026
While 65% of SDG targets depend on local action, implementation remains largely national, with only 16% of targets currently on track globally.
—CBS News, 23 Jan. 2026
The fact that the targets of the subpoenas were sitting lawmakers raises unique separation-of-powers questions; however, given that lawmakers enjoy the protections of the Speech or Debate Clause.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 22 Jan. 2026
The team also updated its medium-term targets for the asset and wealth management business.
—CNBC, 15 Jan. 2026
The new coordinator’s top priority will be unlocking Herbert’s full potential by giving him more time to pick out his targets and giving him more options in the game plan.
—Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 15 Jan. 2026
The Post was told that Natanson and the newspaper are not targets of the probe, executive editor Matt Murray said in an email to colleagues.
—Eric Tucker, Chicago Tribune, 14 Jan. 2026
Noun
Solutions, allowing 11 completions on 28 targets for 341 yards and three touchdowns.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 23 Jan. 2026
Analyst sentiment remains cautiously optimistic for the long term, with consensus price targets indicating possible upside from current levels—but only if Peloton can steer its trajectory towards sustained growth and profitability.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
During the exercise, the destroyer successfully acquired submarine targets and transmitted a large amount of data back in real time.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 23 Jan. 2026
While 65% of SDG targets depend on local action, implementation remains largely national, with only 16% of targets currently on track globally.
—CBS News, 23 Jan. 2026
The fact that the targets of the subpoenas were sitting lawmakers raises unique separation-of-powers questions; however, given that lawmakers enjoy the protections of the Speech or Debate Clause.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 22 Jan. 2026
The team also updated its medium-term targets for the asset and wealth management business.
—CNBC, 15 Jan. 2026
The new coordinator’s top priority will be unlocking Herbert’s full potential by giving him more time to pick out his targets and giving him more options in the game plan.
—Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 15 Jan. 2026
The Post was told that Natanson and the newspaper are not targets of the probe, executive editor Matt Murray said in an email to colleagues.
—Eric Tucker, Chicago Tribune, 14 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for targets
Noun
-
Court documents in the federal prosecution of the employee, Jacob Melvin Hart, indicate there could be more juvenile victims from Crossline Community Church.—
Tony Saavedra,
Oc Register,
24 Jan. 2026
-
All three victims were shot and killed outside the Sky Market on 85th Avenue and International Boulevard, allegedly after the brothers attempted to purchase marijuana from another person who was at the store, authorities said.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Williams plays his colleague Gaby, best friend to his dead wife and a ball of passion and dirty jokes.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
26 Jan. 2026
-
That’s a compliment, of course, as these are very, very funny jokes.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
China continues to expand nuclear energy to meet rising electricity demand and climate goals.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Jan. 2026
-
United are still conceding too many goals — 34 in 23 games — which is more than any club in the top 12.—
Andy Mitten,
New York Times,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The two come face-to-face at the end of the episode, during which Callahan taunts Kyle over his wife's murder.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Dec. 2025
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Instead, Pennywise taunts Ingrid before showing her the deadlights and leaving her (mostly) catatonic.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
8 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Predator species are crucial to the state’s ecological systems, keeping populations of prey animals like deer and elk from growing too large and boosting biodiversity.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
28 Jan. 2026
-
This is where the species spend their productive summer months, feasting on small crustaceans and other seafloor prey.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
But the companies aren’t led by fools.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
25 Jan. 2026
-
Both James Cameron and Apple Studios have made fools of those who have discounted them, but the blockbuster director has just done so more often.—
Marcus Jones,
IndieWire,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
For clarity purposes, the figures below assume that the full line of credit is borrowed immediately and then repaid (and that the interest rate remains constant).—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Trump has tried to extract billions of dollars from universities and has succeeded in squeezing more than $400 million from four of them — Brown, Columbia, Cornell and Northwestern — for purposes of his choosing.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Setting traps and baits eradicates or, at least, discourages these pests from tunneling through your garden and nibbling roots to damage perennials and shrubs.—
Barbara Gillette,
The Spruce,
15 Jan. 2026
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This Christmas, Nelson’s surprising and fresh remake baits controversy in a couple new ways.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
11 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Targets.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/targets. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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