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
Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Sep. 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
Noun
Garraty is forced to slap himself across the face to stay awake as Barkovitch taunts him.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Sep. 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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After bulking up to play a professional footballer in horror movie Him (in theaters next week), Wayans teases his return for Scary Movie 6, the sequel to the horror-parody franchise.—
Nick Romano,
EW.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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The video teases the emotional reunion between Noah and Nick after their devastating breakup, questioning whether the couple can survive their final race together after their fast-burning love affair reached a breaking point and screeched to a sudden halt.—
Veronica Villafañe,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Student imitates Charlie Kirk's death and mocks him, goes up to statue where TPUSA members are and imitates his death again, and spits near them.—
Nick Mordowanec,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
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YouTube's policies specifically prohibit content that revels in or mocks the death or serious injury of an identifiable individual.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
13 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The message came after his 2015 appearance garnered jeers from the crowd.—
Elvia Limon - 09,
The Hill,
7 Sep. 2025
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D’Annunzio jeers at her delusional belief that Il Duce will fund her dream project of a theater not for the wealthy cultural and intellectual elite, but for the Great War’s widows, orphans and veterans.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Young Thug wasn’t the only target, however, as his girlfriend, Mariah The Scientist, also caught a few shots for entertaining Thugger’s insults over the phone.—
Jessica Bennett,
VIBE.com,
12 Sep. 2025
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Egyptian influencers linked to intelligence fronts launched vicious personal attacks, including ethnic slurs, against the Saudi royal family and graphic insults targeting the crown prince.—
Khaled Hassan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Alliances shift, quips fly like the ever-present bullets, and if there is a pause, it’s done for comedic effect.—
Katie Rife,
IndieWire,
9 Sep. 2025
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Tosh will ‘throw in’ water slide Tosh, known for his sharp wit and creative humor, provided some personal photos and quips in the email announcing the listing.—
David Caraccio,
Sacbee.com,
29 Aug. 2025
Noun
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As a result of that and other outrages, in 2008 voters passed Proposition 11, the Voters FIRST Act.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
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These constituencies view the sanctions and the tariffs as otherwise legal instruments weaponized for geopolitical purposes—and as direct affronts to Brazil’s democratic integrity.—
HUSSEIN KALOUT,
Foreign Affairs,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
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He was quoted using several racial and religious slurs.—
Mandy Taheri,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
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His phone rang nonstop with calls spewing Islamophobic slurs.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Taunts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taunts. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.
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