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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of taunt
Natalie Morales, Richard Fetzer, CBS News, 19 Apr. 2025
Others recalled being teased and taunted for not fitting the stereotype of what an audience for a band like Metallica is expected to look like.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 9 Apr. 2025
EW.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Conway said the video was posted while Maldonado was in a rival gang’s territory as a taunt.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for taunt
Verb
Russell Jones taunts investigators while alone in the interrogation room.
—Natalie Morales, Richard Fetzer, CBS News, 19 Apr. 2025
Others recalled being teased and taunted for not fitting the stereotype of what an audience for a band like Metallica is expected to look like.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 9 Apr. 2025
Noun
Their taunts extended to Kreischer, with Waller threatening to slap the comedian.
—EW.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Conway said the video was posted while Maldonado was in a rival gang’s territory as a taunt.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for taunt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taunt
Verb
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Prevost was so dedicated to becoming a priest, his brother would tease him about being the pope.—
Chris Kenning,
USA Today,
11 May 2025
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However, the new German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has teased an agreement over the terms for such a ceasefire as Kyiv's allies meet in the Ukrainian capital this weekend.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 May 2025
Noun
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For about 90 minutes, Edwards faced jeers, boos and pointed questions from many in the audience of 300, while 1,000 more echoed them from outside the building.—
Hannah Schoenbaum,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Mar. 2025
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Vance can be seen smiling and waving as the audience continued their jeers.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
14 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Read: The attack on trans rights won’t end there The impossible becoming possible is a hard thing to process—and easier to reject or mock than to understand.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
22 May 2025
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Film director Wes Anderson mocked President Donald Trump over his plan to slap tariffs on foreign films made outside of the United States.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 May 2025
Noun
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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
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But the moralistic sneer didn’t take long to enter the postgame analysis.—
Zak Garner-Purkis,
Forbes,
23 Mar. 2025
Noun
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People hurled insults as the police started taking down the barricades.—
Carolyn Komatsoulis,
Idaho Statesman,
7 May 2025
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Sarandos, playing a cheeky version of himself, delivers a sharp line about contractual award show shout-outs before signing off with an insult.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
7 May 2025
Noun
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Last Friday, another short video was shared on his Instagram, this one featuring a snippet of his own diss.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
3 Mar. 2025
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Talk of the Bey diss begins around the 25-minute mark.—
Michael Saponara,
Billboard,
9 Apr. 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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While each performance will vary slightly, this comedy act presented more as a half-finished play with a few funny quips and a plot that didn’t quite know where to land.—
Patrick Connolly,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 May 2025
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But Sorensen’s line won’t be forgotten, and as Everton continue to venture into their new and seemingly brighter The Friedkin Group era, Sorensen’s quip might yet prove prescient.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
14 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Taunt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taunt. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
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