as in teased
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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Recent Examples of taunted
Police say Woods taunted Stewart before pulling the trigger, but the exact motive is unknown.
—
Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 15 Feb. 2026
This question has tantalized and taunted Bulls fans for years — and this trade deadline is no different.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
Why do fans continuing need to be taunted during a game to place a bet?
—Jim Bowden, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
Lazzaro argued in court the mall victim was the aggressor and had taunted Hernandez over his history as a government informant, saying his reputation as a snitch would put him in grave danger back in prison.
—Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 7 Jan. 2026
Flex, who taunted Cassie on Instagram immediately after the Diddy verdict, is not turning back that tide.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
Friday's sentence was related to small amounts of cocaine and ecstasy being found at the rapper's Miami home during a police raid in March, and his punching a man who taunted him at a Florida mall in August over his cooperation against gang members.
—CBS News, 6 Dec. 2025
The National Guard ⬆ For much of the past year, National Guard units have been pawns on a chessboard, taunted by protesters.
—Newsweek Editors, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2025
Dearborn police released a statement Tuesday evening, urging people to avoid engaging with the protesters, some of whom taunted Dearborn residents with rhetoric against Islam, immigrants and minorities.
—Niraj Warikoo, Freep.com, 19 Nov. 2025
Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 15 Feb. 2026
This question has tantalized and taunted Bulls fans for years — and this trade deadline is no different.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
Why do fans continuing need to be taunted during a game to place a bet?
—Jim Bowden, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
Lazzaro argued in court the mall victim was the aggressor and had taunted Hernandez over his history as a government informant, saying his reputation as a snitch would put him in grave danger back in prison.
—Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 7 Jan. 2026
Flex, who taunted Cassie on Instagram immediately after the Diddy verdict, is not turning back that tide.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
Friday's sentence was related to small amounts of cocaine and ecstasy being found at the rapper's Miami home during a police raid in March, and his punching a man who taunted him at a Florida mall in August over his cooperation against gang members.
—CBS News, 6 Dec. 2025
The National Guard ⬆ For much of the past year, National Guard units have been pawns on a chessboard, taunted by protesters.
—Newsweek Editors, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2025
Dearborn police released a statement Tuesday evening, urging people to avoid engaging with the protesters, some of whom taunted Dearborn residents with rhetoric against Islam, immigrants and minorities.
—Niraj Warikoo, Freep.com, 19 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taunted
Verb
-
The games were originally teased at the culmination of the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.—
Emily Zemler,
Rolling Stone,
23 Feb. 2026
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Last April, the Sinners filmmaker teased his vision during an appearance on The Last Podcast on the Left.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In Watsonville, a Pajaro Valley school board member publicly ranted against the Jewish community, and at a Berkeley Unified school board meeting, a mother reporting Jewish slurs was mocked, and subsequently her job information was posted online, the suit states.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
28 Feb. 2026
-
Cottin mocked those calling for French filmmakers to make more profitable movies.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Taunted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taunted. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
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