as in teases
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of taunts
Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
Garraty is forced to slap himself across the face to stay awake as Barkovitch taunts him.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Sep. 2025
In the present day, Ellen watches as MacKinny taunts Colum in front of a crowd of onlookers and rushes to stand by his side.
—Lincee Ray Published, EW.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Verb
Bully Ray envisioned a moment where a rival taunts the voiceless Knight.
—Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
Garraty is forced to slap himself across the face to stay awake as Barkovitch taunts him.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Sep. 2025
In the present day, Ellen watches as MacKinny taunts Colum in front of a crowd of onlookers and rushes to stand by his side.
—Lincee Ray Published, EW.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taunts
Verb
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And, as the announcement teases with a lengthy pause, Jessica Lange is making her return to the series, after last being seen briefly in 2018's Apocalypse season.—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Oct. 2025
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The show’s logline teases an ambitious group of friends navigating life and love in Los Angeles.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The jeers continued after the play itself failed miserably.—
Matt Schneidman,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
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As his father read drafts of the Declaration of Independence, William was carted off, to jeers and insults.—
Stacy Schiff,
The Atlantic,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Cuomo mocks Mamdani’s thin resume, just as Republicans derided Obama’s qualifications.—
Ben Adler,
USA Today,
2 Nov. 2025
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In Ringu, Sadako psychically kills a journalist who mocks her mother’s psychic abilities.—
Will Borger,
Rolling Stone,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
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On screen, Lawrence and Pattinson hurl nonstop insults at each other in loud bursts of verbal warfare, a striking contrast to the duo’s quieter working relationship.—
Antonio Ferme,
Variety,
2 Nov. 2025
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The race has been no short of dogged, as insults between the candidates on the debate stage have led to archives investigations and defamation lawsuit threats.—
Molly Parks,
The Washington Examiner,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Spurrier had his quips come out of his mouth as opposed to Kiffin, who seems to be at his best on social media.—
Bruce Feldman,
New York Times,
19 Oct. 2025
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In the end, buzzwords may have a short shelf life, but the responsibility of leadership to step in and help prevent the issues that drive these quips is forever.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Women and children of the city are living in a state of terror, fearing that the fiend, if uncaught, will commit other outrages in this city.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Oct. 2025
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Such outrages have taken place even in New York City.—
Ofir Akunis,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Bukele, after a disastrous month for his image, was not willing to tolerate any more affronts.—
Óscar Martínez & Carlos Martínez,
The Dial,
16 Sep. 2025
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These constituencies view the sanctions and the tariffs as otherwise legal instruments weaponized for geopolitical purposes—and as direct affronts to Brazil’s democratic integrity.—
HUSSEIN KALOUT,
Foreign Affairs,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
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There have been anti-China rallies in downtown Seoul in recent months, where protesters chanted racist slurs and made unsubstantiated claims of Chinese inference in South Korean politics.—
Se Eun Gong,
NPR,
2 Nov. 2025
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According to Ring and his family, other students called the teen names and anti-trans slurs.—
Mikelle Street,
Them.,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Taunts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taunts. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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