Synonyms of taunting

taunting 1 of 2

adjective

as in mocking

Related Words

• mocking
• derisive
• baiting
• ridiculing
• heckling
• jeering
• needling
• deriding
• hassling
• derisory
• sarcastic
• contemptuous
• joking
• scornful
• razzing
• bandying
• bantering
• rallying
• quipping
• kidding
• quizzical
• disdainful
• jesting
• fooling
• ribbing
• joshing
• funning
• chaffing

taunting

2 of 2

verb

present participle of taunt

as in teasing

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

• teasing
• mocking
• ridiculing
• bothering
• baiting
• heckling
• annoying
• riding
• hassling
• torturing
• hazing
• needling
• irritating
• jeering
• plaguing
• picking on
• bullying
• troubling
• making game of
• deriding
• trying
• goading
• harassing
• pestering
• tormenting
• spiting
• nagging
• badgering
• disturbing
• gibing
• bugging
• testing
• aggravating
• griping
• irking
• exasperating
• itching
• riling
• nettling
• grating
• vexing
• ruffling
• hounding
• burning (up)
• persecuting
• chafing
• rasping
• fretting
• dogging
• agitating
• discomforting
• perturbing
• browbeating
• frosting
• terrorizing
• gnawing (at)
• piquing
• galling
• narking
• bedeviling
• hectoring
• getting
• hacking (off)
• beleaguering
• peeving
• putting out
• harrying
• hagriding
• aggrieving

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of taunting

Verb

And the Ithacan more than lives up to his reputation as the most obstinate hero in history, regularly taunting Poseidon (Miles Anderson) despite knowing the god will delay his return home. — Elaina Patton, IndieWire, 24 July 2026

This incident highlights a pattern of controversial behavior, from racist chants to taunting opponents, which has damaged their global image. — Shann Biglione, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026

In that contest, Clark was assessed a technical foul for loudly clapping in the direction of Mercury players during a skirmish, which White said the officials deemed as taunting. — James Boyd, New York Times, 19 July 2026

Popov’s friends eventually left but Popov stuck around and continued taunting Sibley and his friends. — Ben Brachfeld, PEOPLE, 16 July 2026

There was one from Spain–Portugal in Dallas, with [Spanish defensive midfielder] Rodri and [Portuguese midfielder] Bernardo Silva, where one of them was taunting the other. — T.m. Brown, CNN Money, 8 July 2026

Though suspicious, the recording was not considered incriminating, as Hodel may have suspected his home was wiretapped and was taunting police. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 June 2026

The groove passes between them without ever quite resolving, each jolt followed by a pocket of silence that feels almost taunting. — Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 25 June 2026

Neither incidents involved taunting players from the opposing team, and both of those techs have reportedly been rescinded. — Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2026