Synonyms of targets

targets 1 of 2

noun

plural of target

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

• victims
• prey
• butts
• marks
• sitting ducks
• scapegoats
• laughingstocks
• goats
• mockeries
• lightning rods
• fall guys
• pilgarlics
• whipping boys

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• troublemakers
• gossips
• tormentors
• gossipers
• tattlers
• tattletales
• defamers
• torturers
• talebearers
• traducers
• libelers
• hecklers
• teasers
• baiters
• taunters
• needlers
• teases
• mockers
• ribbers
• insulters
• scorners
• scoffers
• satirists
• deriders
• libelists
• caricaturists
• parodists
• lampooners
• ridiculers

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

• jokes
• victims
• fools
• sports
• butts
• mocks
• marks
• laughingstocks
• pigeons
• jests
• dupes
• mockeries
• derisions
• suckers
• monkeys
• gulls
• saps
• chumps
• fall guys

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• pets
• favorites
• darlings

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• goals
• purposes
• plans
• objectives
• aims
• objects
• intentions
• ambitions
• intents
• ideas
• dreams
• things
• aspirations
• points
• ideals
• designs
• meanings
• pretensions
• projects
• marks
• bournes
• ends
• hopes
• schemes
• desires
• plots
• destinations
• wishes
• minds
• holy grails
• grails
• nirvanas
• termini

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• means
• methods
• ways

targets

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of target

as in taunts

Related Words

• taunts
• baits
• harasses
• torments
• bugs
• needles
• kids
• rags
• ribs
• harries
• barracks
• pesters
• caricatures
• rallies
• tweaks
• parodies
• teases
• quizzes
• heckles
• twits
• hassles
• catcalls
• pillories
• lampoons
• takes off (on)
• satirizes
• mimics
• rides
• parrots
• apes
• jives
• burlesques
• razzes
• travesties
• imitates
• chaffs
• disparages
• belittles
• decries
• scouts
• joshes
• ridicules
• scorns
• scoffs (at)
• gibes
• bad-mouths
• mocks
• laughs (at)
• jeers
• sneers (at)
• derides
• pooh-poohs
• skewers
• shoots down
• puts down

Dissimilar Words

• approves
• endorses
• commends
• sanctions
• applauds

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of targets

Noun

Users will be able to request information on security officers, informants or recruitment targets based on their name, date or place of birth, mother's name, code name and document type or number. — Arkansas Online, 30 Sep. 2026

Roche stopped work on one of its obesity drug candidates, after clinical-trial data suggested the medicine did not hit internal targets, The Wall Street Journal tells us. — Ed Silverman, STAT, 29 Sep. 2026

The light targets mitochondria at the cellular level, which supports collagen production, reduces inflammation and promotes tissue repair. — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 29 Sep. 2026

Washington could launch airstrikes against major infrastructure targets, causing generational damage to Iran’s energy network, transportation and communications systems, and other facilities. — Ali Vaez, Foreign Affairs, 29 Sep. 2026

White repeatedly said the inspector general should have access to records needed to complete investigations without revealing the targets of those investigations. — Adam Thompson, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026

The disclosure does not indicate that the journalists themselves were targets of the investigation. — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 29 Sep. 2026

One of your biggest targets in this book is Jeffrey Katzenberg. — Lane Brown, Vulture, 23 Sep. 2026

The company has missed delivery targets, is losing more than $100,000 per car, and has required several new cash injections since PIF invested. — Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 22 Sep. 2026