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
Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 10 Feb. 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
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
So much for Anthropic's Super Bowl taunts.
—Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 10 Feb. 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
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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The first clip, which THR can reveal here, teases the emotion, the intimacy, and the love triangle that audiences can expect from the series.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Apr. 2026
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The clip also teases some plot points of the sequel film to the original 2006 film starring Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
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While some celebrants have greeted these caricatures with cathartic jeers and sneers, others are shocked and outraged.—
Tim Brinkhof,
JSTOR Daily,
1 Apr. 2026
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On the Orioles’ opening day, the governor was introduced and greeted with a cacophony of boos and jeers.—
Torrey Snow,
Baltimore Sun,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Tight end Assuming Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq is long gone, there’s only one who’s a potential option at 43 - Vanderbilt’s Eli Stowers, who Miller mocks to Miami.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
6 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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The game was halted in the 35th minute and the announcer at Stade Pierre-Mauroy urged the Lille fans to stop the insults hurled at their opponents.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Apr. 2026
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The fan repeatedly shouted insults at Punk while pledging allegiance to Reigns.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 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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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
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Among the quips, Thompson’s Barkley tossed in the war in Iran, a cross-dressing political spouse, and the ongoing Artemis II mission to orbit the moon.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
4 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 13 Apr. 2026.
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