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
Raiklin calmly taunted Fanone for needing to be restrained.
—
Brian Niemietz, Mercury News, 23 Jan. 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
The National Guard ⬆ For much of the past year, National Guard units have been pawns on a chessboard, taunted by protesters.
—Newsweek Editors, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2025
And throughout it, you, the reader, will be addressed directly, questioned, sometimes taunted by the novel’s unnamed narrator.
—Literary Hub, 19 Nov. 2025
Dearborn police released a statement Tuesday evening, urging people to avoid engaging with the protesters, some of whom taunted Dearborn residents with rhetoric against Islam, immigrants and minorities.
—Niraj Warikoo, Freep.com, 19 Nov. 2025
Brian Niemietz, Mercury News, 23 Jan. 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
The National Guard ⬆ For much of the past year, National Guard units have been pawns on a chessboard, taunted by protesters.
—Newsweek Editors, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2025
And throughout it, you, the reader, will be addressed directly, questioned, sometimes taunted by the novel’s unnamed narrator.
—Literary Hub, 19 Nov. 2025
Dearborn police released a statement Tuesday evening, urging people to avoid engaging with the protesters, some of whom taunted Dearborn residents with rhetoric against Islam, immigrants and minorities.
—Niraj Warikoo, Freep.com, 19 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taunted
Verb
-
Cosmetics Embark has teased two new cosmetic sets, including the Sandwalker Set pictured above.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The new song functions as both artists’ first release of the year and comes after Fred teased a full minute of it last month.—
Katie Bain,
Billboard,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
These trees, this graveyard, her walk among them mocked that memory.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Ticket sales had been anemic and were getting mocked on social media and by late-night talk show hosts.—
Tamara Keith,
NPR,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Taunted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taunted. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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