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
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as in jeer
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of taunt
Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 11 June 2025
Haliburton borrowed Miller’s choking taunt in Game 1.
—Jason Jones, New York Times, 1 June 2025
Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 11 June 2025
Rakeem Nunez-Roches taunted Hudson from the defensive sideline, and Hudson made the yapping sign with his hand back at him.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for taunt
Verb
With both sides trading back-and-forth highlights, cornerback Jaycee Horn exchanged verbal taunts with running back Chuba Hubbard and quarterback Bryce Young.
—Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 11 June 2025
Haliburton borrowed Miller’s choking taunt in Game 1.
—Jason Jones, New York Times, 1 June 2025
Noun
Shortly afterward, Musashi runs into the taunting Sasaki Ganryu, another gauntlet user—one who has let the gauntlet's power consume him.
—Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 11 June 2025
Rakeem Nunez-Roches taunted Hudson from the defensive sideline, and Hudson made the yapping sign with his hand back at him.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for taunt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taunt
Verb
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The first step is a boot camp in a mountainous ski resort, where Karolina is teased by the other girls and gets so much preferential treatment from Vitek that Lucie, enraged, locks her outside in the snow and nearly kills her in the process.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
10 July 2025
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Since last year, Justin Bieber has been teasing the launch of his new fashion brand, Skylrk.—
Christian Allaire,
Vogue,
10 July 2025
Noun
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And while both teams seem to be better off for the move, with each leading their respective divisions, Yankee fans are likely going to welcome Soto's return with boos and jeers.—
Peter Chawaga,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 May 2025
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Seemingly every time Messi touched the ball, the crowd reacted in unison, more so with cheers than jeers.—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
16 May 2025
Verb
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And of course, that following Sunday, Oliver did indeed mock his corporate bosses for the move.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
8 July 2025
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Many wanted Tiger to comment, but others chose to mock Williams.—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 July 2025
Noun
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Up front, its face is a far more rectilinear sneer.—
Brett Berk,
Robb Report,
8 July 2025
-
Yungblud’s voice — a piercing yelp that exists somewhere between Gerard Way’s wail and Brian Molko’s sneer — slotted him in the alt-rock world, but his aspirations seemed to stretch far beyond that categorization.—
Maura Johnston,
Rolling Stone,
21 June 2025
Noun
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Adding insult, he was called for eight fouls in Tuesday night’s victory over the Golden State Warriors, with players allowed 10 in summer league, four above the regular-season maximum.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
9 July 2025
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Amid the mix of compliments and insults from obvious trolls, many thought ATB bore a striking resemblance to another member of the family.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
8 July 2025
Noun
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Co-written by Mustard, the searing Drake diss spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Hot 100, swept all five of its Grammy nominations, and became the first-ever rap song to spend 52 consecutive weeks on Billboard’s marquee singles chart.—
Kyle Denis,
Billboard,
9 June 2025
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If an artist could successfully sue over a diss, would that bring about the last of label-supported (and thus widely heard) diss records?—
Touré,
HollywoodReporter,
19 June 2025
Noun
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Roy Keane’s ‘prawn sandwiches’ jibe had interesting origins.—
Michael Walker,
The Athletic,
15 Mar. 2025
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But even some Republicans weren’t happy with the nasty gibe.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
6 Mar. 2025
Noun
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But a long-ago quip to four volunteers at No. 16 continues to shape his experience at Edgewood.—
Daniel Brown,
New York Times,
11 July 2025
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The Princess of Wales, 43, made the quip in reference to her kids, Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7, at Colchester Hospital on July 2.—
Janine Henni,
People.com,
3 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Taunt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taunt. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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