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
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Recent Examples of taunts
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
But 36–23 still taunts and tantalizes us, a magical missing score that reminds every Scorigami devotee that what’s possible isn’t preordained.
—Josh Levin, The Atlantic, 5 Dec. 2025
Bully Ray envisioned a moment where a rival taunts the voiceless Knight.
—Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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
But 36–23 still taunts and tantalizes us, a magical missing score that reminds every Scorigami devotee that what’s possible isn’t preordained.
—Josh Levin, The Atlantic, 5 Dec. 2025
Bully Ray envisioned a moment where a rival taunts the voiceless Knight.
—Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taunts
Verb
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The video not only teases the studio’s upcoming films and highlights the talent who have signed deals, but also reflects on the Paramount lot’s 100th anniversary.—
Rebecca Ford,
Vanity Fair,
23 Apr. 2026
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Despite ending with onscreen text that teases a second movie, there are no scenes during the credits.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The Garden’s, ahem, Bleep* Trae Young jeers took on a life of their own, so much so that fans still break out that chant with regularity — including in the current series against the Hawks, even though Young is no longer on the team.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
21 Apr. 2026
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Starmer’s explanation was greeted with jeers from opposition lawmakers, incredulous that the nation’s leader hadn’t known such a crucial piece of information.—
Jill Lawless,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In an odd twist, ESPN’s Matt Miller mocks Joly to Denver with the 111th pick — which is the fourth-rounder that Miami dealt to the Broncos in the Jaylen Waddle deal that netted the Dolphins picks in the first, third and fourth rounds.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
10 Apr. 2026
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This seems like a reach, but many mocks now have Cooper, previously considered a second-round pick, going to the Jets in the middle of the first round.—
Michael Salfino,
New York Times,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
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There are comic insults and lines of great beauty.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
21 Apr. 2026
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But instead of paving the way for some good ol’ fashioned infidelity, the liquid courage causes the women to turn on each other, with the evening devolving into inebriated insults and recriminations.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
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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
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All three Republican gubernatorial candidates also had fun in the aftermath of the catcalls.—
Lance Reynolds,
Boston Herald,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Naturally, the showman can’t help from throwing in a few quips in among all the educational tidbits.—
Jon O'Brien,
IndieWire,
22 Apr. 2026
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Politico had recently published text messages leaked from a Young Republicans group chat that contained quips about Hitler, gas chambers, slavery, and rape.—
Antonia Hitchens,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 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
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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
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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
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Meanwhile, some on Wall Street continue to warn of complacency in financial markets amid affronts to the Fed’s independence, persistent nerves about a bubble and increasingly fraught geopolitics.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Taunts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taunts. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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