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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of taunting
Arkansas Online, 12 Mar. 2026
Her reasoning is frustrating, but understandable — her husband (Yao), now a vampire, is taunting her outside, and Remmick has threatened to kill her daughter back in town.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Mar. 2026
Much of Chicago’s offense came from ex-Knick Guerschon Yabusele, who finished with 11 points and 13 rebounds while taunting his former teammates.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 23 Feb. 2026
Defense attorney Kevin Rousseau suggested in witness questioning that Bell-Johnson, who is known as One Leg and uses a prosthetic limb, sought comfort in gang membership in part because of taunting connected to his disability.
—Emerson Clarridge
updated February 9, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Feb. 2026
Another child care center director recounted how vehicles full of taunting men have driven by more than once.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 6 Feb. 2026
Seattle Seahawks defensive back Tariq Woolen was fined $17,398 Saturday for a taunting penalty during the NFC championship game against the Los Angeles Rams.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 31 Jan. 2026
Rich kids on scooters swerved aggressively around the gillagers, taunting them.
—Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
The emotions twice resulted in technical fouls against Brentwood players for taunting.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
Cellphone video posted by Jada's aunt on social media shows Jada and another girl yelling and taunting each other while standing a good distance apart.
—Arkansas Online, 12 Mar. 2026
Her reasoning is frustrating, but understandable — her husband (Yao), now a vampire, is taunting her outside, and Remmick has threatened to kill her daughter back in town.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Mar. 2026
Much of Chicago’s offense came from ex-Knick Guerschon Yabusele, who finished with 11 points and 13 rebounds while taunting his former teammates.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 23 Feb. 2026
Defense attorney Kevin Rousseau suggested in witness questioning that Bell-Johnson, who is known as One Leg and uses a prosthetic limb, sought comfort in gang membership in part because of taunting connected to his disability.
—Emerson Clarridge
updated February 9, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Feb. 2026
Another child care center director recounted how vehicles full of taunting men have driven by more than once.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 6 Feb. 2026
Seattle Seahawks defensive back Tariq Woolen was fined $17,398 Saturday for a taunting penalty during the NFC championship game against the Los Angeles Rams.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 31 Jan. 2026
Rich kids on scooters swerved aggressively around the gillagers, taunting them.
—Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
The emotions twice resulted in technical fouls against Brentwood players for taunting.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taunting
Adjective
-
To get a sense of his whole deal, look no further than the half-mocking, half-earnest title of his latest album, Country!—
Jonathan Bernstein,
Rolling Stone,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Netflix’s live-action One Piece is deep into production on Season 3, with the beloved Arabasta arc taking center stage, a wave of new casting locked in, and stars teasing a darker, more mature tone ahead.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
16 Mar. 2026
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Rivian has been teasing the R2 for a while now, dangling the promise of a smaller, cheaper, more attainable version of its beloved R1S in front of adventure-hungry buyers who couldn’t quite stretch to the $77,000-plus sticker of its halo SUV.—
Kevin Sintumuang,
Outside,
13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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This was met by derisive laughter in the locker room, where, coincidentally, the director of the FBI was chugging a beer and joining in the uproar.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
28 Feb. 2026
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The revelation quickly made headlines, and the social-media peanut gallery was sharply derisive.—
Emma Sandler,
Vogue,
15 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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Reuters reported that BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, who hosted the dinner of some 200 people as co-chair of the World Economic Forum, ended the dinner after the heckling incident — before dessert was served.—
Ashleigh Fields,
The Hill,
22 Jan. 2026
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Vice President Vance appeared on FOX News Channel’s The Ingraham Angle hours after the heckling incident, telling the host about visiting with the national guardsmen and discussing recent changes to the city, while briefly mentioning the protesters.—
Jillian Frankel,
People.com,
21 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Then, again, the needling cold.—
Roey Leonardi,
The Atlantic,
22 Feb. 2026
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In cases of significant thinning, Small recommends procedures like platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy or micro-needling.—
Rebecca Strong,
USA Today,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Taunting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taunting. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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