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
Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Dec. 2025
Instead, Pennywise taunts Ingrid before showing her the deadlights and leaving her (mostly) catatonic.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 8 Dec. 2025
But 36–23 still taunts and tantalizes us, a magical missing score that reminds every Scorigami devotee that what’s possible isn’t preordained.
—Josh Levin, The Atlantic, 5 Dec. 2025
Bully Ray envisioned a moment where a rival taunts the voiceless Knight.
—Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 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
Verb
The two come face-to-face at the end of the episode, during which Callahan taunts Kyle over his wife's murder.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for taunts
Verb
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The trailer for the film, released this morning, teases an emotional Matt and Ross Duffer wrapping up the Netflix tentpole show that took 10 years to make.—
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The trailer teases a sharp, self-aware story about ambition, reinvention, and the business of superhero mythmaking.—
Noun
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His remarks received a mixed reaction from the crowd, with cheers, jeers and a few boos.—
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In the years leading up to the massive and sometimes violent pro-democracy protests that swept Hong Kong in 2019, China’s national anthem was frequently greeted with jeers and boos from supporters of the local team.—
Verb
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Chelsea Handler honors Rob Reiner, mocks DiCaprio's 'Titanic' vacationNeed a news break?—
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There, Callahan mocks him, saying that killing him won't assuage Mike of his guilt.—
Noun
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Men sneered contemptuously at them, while teenagers used their names as insults.—
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The Marty Supreme scene in question sees Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary (in his first screen acting role), who plays businessman Milton Rockwell, physically punish Chalamet's Marty for several insults Marty deals Milton throughout the movie.—
Noun
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Trump’s quips about acquiring the island have ignited international concerns about Greenland’s independence and sovereignty from lawmakers in Washington and NATO allies alike.—
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Adapted from the titular national treasure’s The Seven Dials Mystery by Broadchurch’s Chris Chibnall, this is a reassuringly old-school, three-part potboiler packed with witty quips and startling twists.—
Noun
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Rideout’s trial, for example, teemed with outrages.—
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Today’s designation is a critical step in holding accountable and changing the behavior of Nigerian officials who have facilitated and created an environment conducive to the outrages in Nigeria.—
Noun
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The dollar weakened amid affronts to the Fed’s independence, lower interest rates from the central bank and uncertainty about US policy decisions and tariffs.—
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And those affronts to standard Hollywood operating procedure threaten millions of jobs across the industry.—
Noun
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According to the police report, officers witnessed the spitting on video, but not the use of racial slurs.—
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Holman, at times, had to endure racist jokes and slurs, and got the silent treatment from some.—
Cite this Entry
“Taunts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taunts. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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