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
Relevance
as in jeer
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of taunt
Literary Hub,
8 June 2026
Then Tate started openly taunting his accusers.
—
Heidi Blake,
New Yorker,
8 June 2026
Gail Sheehy,
Vanity Fair,
20 Feb. 2026
Tkachuk was also caught on a live mic, giving German and Edmonton star Leon Draisaitl the taunt of the Olympics.
—
Adam Lichtenstein,
Sun Sentinel,
19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for taunt
Verb
The Cubs players continued to taunt Ruth at every opportunity, and a big one came their way in the bottom of the fourth inning when Jurges slashed a sinking liner into right field and the lumbering, top-heavy Babe muffed a shoestring catch.
—
Literary Hub,
8 June 2026
Then Tate started openly taunting his accusers.
—
Heidi Blake,
New Yorker,
8 June 2026
Noun
That taunt came from the boys playing in Happy Hearts Park.
—
Gail Sheehy,
Vanity Fair,
20 Feb. 2026
Tkachuk was also caught on a live mic, giving German and Edmonton star Leon Draisaitl the taunt of the Olympics.
—
Adam Lichtenstein,
Sun Sentinel,
19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for taunt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taunt
Verb
-
Eric Schmidt, the former CEO of Google, took over as chief executive of Relativity a little more than a year ago, teasing new areas of focus such as orbital data centers, philanthropic space science ventures, and national security missions.
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The singer has been teasing the song on tour this summer.
Noun
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Loud jeers have greeted the stoppages, around 22 minutes into each half, especially at games played in stadiums with roofs and air conditioning, such as Atlanta.
-
In response, the Fed raised or lowered interest rates to increase or decrease liquidity, eliciting both cheers and jeers from political and economic opinion makers.
Verb
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Within a couple of hours, Wilkins’ replies to the post were flooded with accusations of favoritism, questioning the use of taxpayer funds to book her and mocking her sincerity about being chosen as a performer following high-profile exits from the event.
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The 19-year-old was mocked as a late first-round, early second-round selection.
Noun
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With his rakish sneer and ruthlessly tight jodhpurs, Rupert has been thoroughly neutered with irony, transformed into an object for women to pick at.
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Of course, the prospect of one of the greatest women’s footballers in history skittering around Bromley on a Saturday lunchtime in front of a smattering of fans inevitably inspires sneers.
Noun
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In recent weeks, Avila Chevalier has been under a microscope for her past tweets, including posts calling for defunding the police and abolishing the border, alongside harsh insults of big-name Democrats such as former Vice President Kamala Harris.
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Michael Lind, the writer and New America co-founder, argues in Commonplace, the magazine of Oren Cass’s American Compass, that a decent wage and a safety net should be enough, and that handing workers a stake in capital insults the dignity of their labor.
Noun
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The casual references to him as a billionaire, however, is one gibe that Lamont laughs off.
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In the final race, when Canfield was vying with Slingsby for the lead at the first turning mark, the Australians foiled through their first jibe and into a commanding lead.
Noun
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There were quips and laughs during the postgame news conference, but Skubal’s overall tone was hardly joking.
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And as with your grandmother’s ability to counter rudeness with a clever quip, this seemingly innocuous cocktail, too, packs a mighty punch.
Noun
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Adley and his team make great tasting plates first and foremost, but some of the items, like the unmissable chicken wings stuffed with boudin blanc and romesco, act as a cheeky affront to haute cuisine’s pretensions and conventions.
-
Lawyers for plaintiffs called it an affront.
Cite this Entry
“Taunt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taunt. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
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