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
Relevance
as in jeer
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of taunt
Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Jan. 2026
The pair had been sniping at each other all game, with Doncic at one point taunting Schroder for not signing an $84-million contract with the Lakers in 2021.
—Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2026
NPR, 25 Nov. 2025
Thursday featured Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant delivering a savage taunt towards Ja Morant's father during the Memphis Grizzlies game.
—Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
Nick Miroff, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2026
The crime is notable because the victim was stabbed many times and staged with a taunting message, and because nobody in Dahlonega has ever had to deal with a murder before, other than Jack Harper (Bernthal), a detective and native son who once worked in Atlanta.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for taunt
Verb
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
The pair had been sniping at each other all game, with Doncic at one point taunting Schroder for not signing an $84-million contract with the Lakers in 2021.
—Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2026
Noun
And, so, to counteract this bias, poker players have come up with the following dictum (often offered up as a taunt): Scared money don't make money.
—NPR, 25 Nov. 2025
Thursday featured Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant delivering a savage taunt towards Ja Morant's father during the Memphis Grizzlies game.
—Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
Verb
Officers outfitted for combat commingle with Americans screaming obscenities and taunting them.
—Nick Miroff, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2026
The crime is notable because the victim was stabbed many times and staged with a taunting message, and because nobody in Dahlonega has ever had to deal with a murder before, other than Jack Harper (Bernthal), a detective and native son who once worked in Atlanta.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for taunt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taunt
Noun
-
Upon jeers from the crowd following the win, Putintseva cupped her hand to her ear to mock the fans, resulting in loud boos.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Todd said Norman notified the Fire and Police Commission of the trip in advance of it, which drew jeers from speakers.—
David Clarey,
jsonline.com,
23 Jan. 2026
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
Noun
-
McDonald’s is spreading a little festive sneer this holiday season with the release of a brand-new menu inspired by Dr. Seuss’s The Grinch.—
Jack Beresford,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Nov. 2025
-
Burnett tried several versions in a row: first deadpan, then with a sneer of sarcasm, pursing her lips in judgment.—
Rachel Syme,
New Yorker,
29 Sep. 2025
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
Noun
-
Apparently, my father approached the people hurling the insults and asked them to stop.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
The president also called Walz and Frey himself Monday after weeks of hurling insults and accusing the Democratic officials of inciting resistance to the crackdown.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Many of the players reunited for a Boost Mobile commercial in 2010 that parodied the song, and Saturday Night Live created a mock Behind The Music documentary about it when Tom Brady hosted in 2005.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Pownall has become a master at surprise gifts for his wife, recently gifting her a present for every day of December leading up to Christmas — in his own mock, luxury Advent calendar.—
Tabitha Parent,
PEOPLE,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Leno later said he felt humiliated by Kimmel’s jibe.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
19 Sep. 2025
-
The foolishness of the governor’s gibe was underscored by the progressive, staunchly anti-Trump Democratic mayor of San Jose.—
U T Editorial Board,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Sep. 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
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Taunt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taunt. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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