as in teased
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 taunted
Iza later taunted the victim by sending him a photograph of the arrest and booking photo.
—
City News Service, Daily News, 17 Mar. 2026
And they were taunted by the protesters, getting abused for no reason.
—Emma Rosenblum, Curbed, 12 Mar. 2026
Police say Woods taunted Stewart before pulling the trigger, but the exact motive is unknown.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 15 Feb. 2026
This question has tantalized and taunted Bulls fans for years — and this trade deadline is no different.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
Why do fans continuing need to be taunted during a game to place a bet?
—Jim Bowden, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
Lazzaro argued in court the mall victim was the aggressor and had taunted Hernandez over his history as a government informant, saying his reputation as a snitch would put him in grave danger back in prison.
—Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 7 Jan. 2026
Flex, who taunted Cassie on Instagram immediately after the Diddy verdict, is not turning back that tide.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
Friday's sentence was related to small amounts of cocaine and ecstasy being found at the rapper's Miami home during a police raid in March, and his punching a man who taunted him at a Florida mall in August over his cooperation against gang members.
—CBS News, 6 Dec. 2025
City News Service, Daily News, 17 Mar. 2026
And they were taunted by the protesters, getting abused for no reason.
—Emma Rosenblum, Curbed, 12 Mar. 2026
Police say Woods taunted Stewart before pulling the trigger, but the exact motive is unknown.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 15 Feb. 2026
This question has tantalized and taunted Bulls fans for years — and this trade deadline is no different.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
Why do fans continuing need to be taunted during a game to place a bet?
—Jim Bowden, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
Lazzaro argued in court the mall victim was the aggressor and had taunted Hernandez over his history as a government informant, saying his reputation as a snitch would put him in grave danger back in prison.
—Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 7 Jan. 2026
Flex, who taunted Cassie on Instagram immediately after the Diddy verdict, is not turning back that tide.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
Friday's sentence was related to small amounts of cocaine and ecstasy being found at the rapper's Miami home during a police raid in March, and his punching a man who taunted him at a Florida mall in August over his cooperation against gang members.
—CBS News, 6 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taunted
Verb
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Research from groups like the Intercultural Development Research Association and Arizona State University found that Black students are more likely to report being teased or discriminated against for their natural hair, compared to their non-Black classmates.—
Noelle Lilley,
CBS News,
16 Mar. 2026
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The announcement comes after a weeklong social media campaign fronted by Fillion and Tudyk that teased news about the future of the beloved series.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The fact that the team is almost entirely composed of Americans with Italian heritage is by now well-known and lovingly mocked on both sides of the Atlantic.—
Sara Germano,
Sportico.com,
13 Mar. 2026
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Quotas, speech codes and identity politics now mocked as woke and un-American, often defied common sense.—
Maurice O'Sullivan,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Taunted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taunted. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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