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
The woman alleged that Jackson repeatedly refused to delete the video and then taunted her with it.
—
Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026
When Metcalf and others asked him to leave, Anthony taunted and provoked Metcalf, took out a knife and stabbed him, prosecutor Bill Wirskye said, according to KTVT.
—Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 9 June 2026
The neighbor, who lived across the hall from Valentine, said the suspect routinely taunted her from inside her apartment, uttering her insults through the microphone of a doorbell camera.
—Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 3 June 2026
During Sunday afternoon’s series-ending Game 4 — which the Knicks won, 144-114 — the New York fans booed Joel Embiid loudly and taunted him with posters showing Mitchell Robinson dunking on him two days earlier.
—Peter Sblendorio, Hartford Courant, 11 May 2026
The window next to my desk overlooks the gym’s large communal exercise room, and throughout the day, I am taunted by the sight of gyrating bodies panting through a Zumba class or a kettlebell set.
—Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 8 May 2026
Edwards taunted Nuggets fans at the end of Minnesota’s Game 7 win in 2024, getting on Jokic’s nerves in the process.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 25 Apr. 2026
The former South Carolina guard was drafted by the Indiana Fever on Monday, April 13, meaning Johnson and Clark will now be teammates, three years after the former Iowa star taunted Johnson by refusing to defend her in the national semifinal game.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 14 Apr. 2026
Iza later taunted the victim by sending him a photograph of the arrest and booking photo.
—City News Service, Daily News, 17 Mar. 2026
Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026
When Metcalf and others asked him to leave, Anthony taunted and provoked Metcalf, took out a knife and stabbed him, prosecutor Bill Wirskye said, according to KTVT.
—Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 9 June 2026
The neighbor, who lived across the hall from Valentine, said the suspect routinely taunted her from inside her apartment, uttering her insults through the microphone of a doorbell camera.
—Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 3 June 2026
During Sunday afternoon’s series-ending Game 4 — which the Knicks won, 144-114 — the New York fans booed Joel Embiid loudly and taunted him with posters showing Mitchell Robinson dunking on him two days earlier.
—Peter Sblendorio, Hartford Courant, 11 May 2026
The window next to my desk overlooks the gym’s large communal exercise room, and throughout the day, I am taunted by the sight of gyrating bodies panting through a Zumba class or a kettlebell set.
—Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 8 May 2026
Edwards taunted Nuggets fans at the end of Minnesota’s Game 7 win in 2024, getting on Jokic’s nerves in the process.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 25 Apr. 2026
The former South Carolina guard was drafted by the Indiana Fever on Monday, April 13, meaning Johnson and Clark will now be teammates, three years after the former Iowa star taunted Johnson by refusing to defend her in the national semifinal game.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 14 Apr. 2026
Iza later taunted the victim by sending him a photograph of the arrest and booking photo.
—City News Service, Daily News, 17 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taunted
Verb
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In March, the Emmy-winning actress teased her union to Holland while appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live.—
Sharareh Drury,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 June 2026
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Some family members also shared humorous stories, including his sister, who posted about how Nash teased her about her shoes after making his wedding guests take a long hike.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
15 June 2026
Verb
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Gaudí’s radical, modernist designs were mocked in his lifetime but have subsequently been celebrated.—
Ashley Mowreader,
NBC news,
13 June 2026
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The bear designed on the flag was mocked by some, due to its closer resemblance to a pig.—
Kurt Snibbe,
Oc Register,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Taunted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taunted. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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