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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Recent Examples of taunts
Nicole Briese, PEOPLE, 28 May 2026
Newsom taunts Trump with multiple jabs as Florida redistricting fight ramps up.
—FOXNews.com, 28 Apr. 2026
Owen is a serial killer who, much like Zodiac, taunts the police with phone calls threatening the murder of innocent citizens.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 14 Apr. 2026
So much for Anthropic's Super Bowl taunts.
—Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 10 Feb. 2026
More than an hour into the film, during a scene in which Buffalo Bill taunts the captive Catherine Martin—a moment that features both characters screaming directly into the camera—Mary got up and headed to the lobby.
—Brian Raftery, Longreads, 29 Jan. 2026
In a 30-second clip, Adams is seen leaving a jet bridge while a woman who is walking ahead of him seemingly taunts Adams.
—Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 15 Jan. 2026
The two come face-to-face at the end of the episode, during which Callahan taunts Kyle over his wife's murder.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Dec. 2025
Instead, Pennywise taunts Ingrid before showing her the deadlights and leaving her (mostly) catatonic.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 8 Dec. 2025
Verb
In the final episode of the season, Max taunts Pip on her way to Stanley’s funeral as his companion, a young blonde, laughs and drinks wine.
—Nicole Briese, PEOPLE, 28 May 2026
Newsom taunts Trump with multiple jabs as Florida redistricting fight ramps up.
—FOXNews.com, 28 Apr. 2026
Owen is a serial killer who, much like Zodiac, taunts the police with phone calls threatening the murder of innocent citizens.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 14 Apr. 2026
So much for Anthropic's Super Bowl taunts.
—Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 10 Feb. 2026
More than an hour into the film, during a scene in which Buffalo Bill taunts the captive Catherine Martin—a moment that features both characters screaming directly into the camera—Mary got up and headed to the lobby.
—Brian Raftery, Longreads, 29 Jan. 2026
In a 30-second clip, Adams is seen leaving a jet bridge while a woman who is walking ahead of him seemingly taunts Adams.
—Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 15 Jan. 2026
The two come face-to-face at the end of the episode, during which Callahan taunts Kyle over his wife's murder.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Dec. 2025
Instead, Pennywise taunts Ingrid before showing her the deadlights and leaving her (mostly) catatonic.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 8 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taunts
Verb
-
Season one teases the turmoil ahead, after Dean finds out that Allie has slept with his very own (heated) rival, Hunter (Charlie Evans).—
Kenneal Patterson,
Vanity Fair,
29 May 2026
-
The preview also teases the roles of the supporting cast.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 May 2026
Noun
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The mayor exited through the back door to escape the jeers of his audience.—
Kevin Lozano,
Harpers Magazine,
2 June 2026
-
Whistles and jeers inside the Bernabeu have become increasingly common — aimed not only at players but occasionally even at Perez.—
Guillermo Rai,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
The group openly mocks Jesus Christ and many Christian and Catholic traditions.—
Jon Root OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
30 May 2026
-
Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is demanding all copies of Unethical Hoops, a new Operation-style board game that mocks his foul-drawing reputation, be destroyed.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2026
Noun
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Some of the insults refer to comments Talarico has made over the years.—
Danielle Kurtzleben,
NPR,
30 May 2026
-
In state offices, though men reported higher levels of threats and attacks, more women than men experienced harassment and insults.—
Caelyn Pender,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
Noun
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For Dua, puberty and social maturity become knotted up in unpredictable notions of bodily harm (whether acted upon, or merely threatened), as Serbian boys and men harass her on the way home from school, lacing their catcalls with ethnic slurs.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
13 May 2026
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When the Huskies took the court here, they were booed roundly and Hurley’s postgame interview with CBS was nearly drowned by the catcalls.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
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But you could be convinced otherwise, hearing the uppity British quips of Princess Donut.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
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Kara, wearing a vintage Blondie T-shirt and brown trench coat, fights them off while making sarcastic quips, almost Han Solo-like.—
Kate Aurthur,
Variety,
20 May 2026
Noun
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More recently, Tandy Hills experienced issues with ATVs being driven through the park and damaging wildflowers, sparking outrages on social media from people who demanded the city take action.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
25 Mar. 2026
-
As has always been the case in my life, my main way of responding to political outrages is through writing and reading.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
These things are murders and affronts to the dignity of human life.—
Chris Stirewalt,
The Hill,
28 Apr. 2026
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Any tension between them, though, stems from personal affronts, while their ideological differences exist as a largely unremarked upon undercurrent.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Taunts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taunts. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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