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
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
Instead, Woolen drew a 15-yard penalty well after the play for taunting.
—Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2026
The Seahawks led 31-20 late in the third quarter on Darnold’s 13-yard TD pass to Cooper Kupp, but the Rams got back into the game when Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen was flagged for taunting after breaking up a pass to Nacua on third-and-12, giving Los Angeles a first down.
—Dallas Morning News, 25 Jan. 2026
Videos surfaced on social media showing Doncic taunting Schroder for turning down a four-year, $84 million contract with the Lakers in 2021.
—Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 13 Jan. 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, 11 Jan. 2026
Verb
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
Instead, Woolen drew a 15-yard penalty well after the play for taunting.
—Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2026
The Seahawks led 31-20 late in the third quarter on Darnold’s 13-yard TD pass to Cooper Kupp, but the Rams got back into the game when Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen was flagged for taunting after breaking up a pass to Nacua on third-and-12, giving Los Angeles a first down.
—Dallas Morning News, 25 Jan. 2026
Videos surfaced on social media showing Doncic taunting Schroder for turning down a four-year, $84 million contract with the Lakers in 2021.
—Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 13 Jan. 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, 11 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
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Alongside the tape, the UK artist has also begun teasing a new album, Terrified.—
Hattie Lindert,
Pitchfork,
25 Jan. 2026
-
Hana can’t shake the feeling that someone is watching her, even teasing her.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The revelation quickly made headlines, and the social-media peanut gallery was sharply derisive.—
Emma Sandler,
Vogue,
15 Dec. 2025
-
There is nothing quite like experiencing a truly terrible film with a room full of gleefully derisive bad-movie fans.—
Randy McMullen,
Mercury News,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
Glaser was at her best when needling awards-show tropes.—
Hershal Pandya,
Vulture,
13 Jan. 2026
-
He’s repeated that sentiment in countless interviews over the years, but hearing him say it in front of his gently needling bandmates gives it a different kind of resonance.—
Jordan Runtagh,
PEOPLE,
27 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Taunting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taunting. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.
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