as in to tease
to attack repeatedly with mean put-downs or insults
the principal reminded the student athletes that taunting their opponents was not showing good sportsmanship
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in jeer
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of taunt
Jason Jones, New York Times, 1 June 2025
The series became personal for many Knicks fans after Game 1, when Tyrese Haliburton capped a 17-point comeback with a game-tying buzzer beater to force overtime, then unleashed the choke taunt made famous by Reggie Miller in the same building back in 1994.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 30 May 2025
Lisa Stardust, People.com, 7 June 2025
Protesters taunt Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies on Hunsaker Ave.
—CBS News, 7 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for taunt
Verb
Haliburton borrowed Miller’s choking taunt in Game 1.
—Jason Jones, New York Times, 1 June 2025
The series became personal for many Knicks fans after Game 1, when Tyrese Haliburton capped a 17-point comeback with a game-tying buzzer beater to force overtime, then unleashed the choke taunt made famous by Reggie Miller in the same building back in 1994.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 30 May 2025
Noun
Stef proves to be a loyal pal to Andy, often taunting her about accidentally kissing Mikey instead of Brand.
—Lisa Stardust, People.com, 7 June 2025
Protesters taunt Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies on Hunsaker Ave.
—CBS News, 7 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for taunt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taunt
Verb
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Affectionately, the 35-year-old pop star is not known for setting or chasing trends, instead using fashion to tease new musical eras or evoke a sense of girl-next-door relatability.—
Emily Tannenbaum,
Glamour,
29 June 2025
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The historic broadcast network began teasing the multiple Emmy winner’s birthday as early as June 13.—
Ronda Racha Penrice,
HollywoodReporter,
28 June 2025
Noun
-
Seemingly every time Messi touched the ball, the crowd reacted in unison, more so with cheers than jeers.—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
16 May 2025
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But the road to that reality has been anything but smooth, with a rally last week in Castle Rock decrying the move, a tense town hall meeting at county headquarters that ended in shouts and jeers — and a lawsuit attempting to shut the whole thing down.—
John Aguilar,
Denver Post,
8 June 2025
Verb
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Tonally, the show is all over the place, laying on the moody theatrics one moment, mocking Dave’s writerly pretenses the next.—
Nina Metz,
Chicago Tribune,
25 June 2025
-
In September 2024, she was mocked online after releasing a single.—
Kate Plummer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 June 2025
Noun
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His voice—typically pitched between a bellow and a sneer—was instantly recognizable to the couple that night.—
Air Mail,
Air Mail,
3 May 2025
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In a movie climate where remakes tend to draw sneers of derision and claims that people have just gotten too lazy to invent anything new, Disney’s remakes of its own products are always a chief target.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
TIME,
21 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Under it, anyone who defames, insults or threatens the King, Queen, heir apparent, or regent faces three to 15 years in prison.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
26 June 2025
-
In the video, Songz is seen locked in a tense exchange with an unidentified man, with both hurling insults and threats in an escalating war of words.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
25 June 2025
Noun
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If an artist could successfully sue over a diss, would that bring about the last of label-supported (and thus widely heard) diss records?—
Touré,
HollywoodReporter,
19 June 2025
-
Many people had already interpreted the track as a diss to Puff, but now believe there was a potential relationship between the 6 God and Cassie, which caused the controversial mogul to get angry and abuse her.—
Armon Sadler,
VIBE.com,
21 May 2025
Noun
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Roy Keane’s ‘prawn sandwiches’ jibe had interesting origins.—
Michael Walker,
The Athletic,
15 Mar. 2025
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But even some Republicans weren’t happy with the nasty gibe.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
6 Mar. 2025
Noun
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But instead of a brief response that many NFL fans have become familiar with, Belichick responded with a quip about his recent book.—
Paulina Dedaj,
FOXNews.com,
11 June 2025
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An early Super 70s fan, installed in the front row, queasily yearned for quips about the days of dirt bikes and cigarette machines, or even for those days themselves.—
Nick Paumgarten,
New Yorker,
19 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Taunt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taunt. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
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