targeting

verb

present participle of target
as in harassing

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of targeting Taylor, a fluid 6-foot-5, is already the Jets’ second-best receiver and plays with a quarterback, Justin Fields, who is prone to targeting tight ends — fifth-highest tight end target rate since 2021, and Cole Kmet had a career-high 719 yards with Fields as his quarterback in 2023. — Jacob Robinson, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for targeting
  1. harassing
  2. taunting
  3. tormenting
  4. baiting
  5. pestering
  6. bugging
  7. hassling
  8. teasing
Verb
  • Lively accused Baldoni in December 2024 of harassing her on the set of It Ends With Us and subsequently plotting a smear campaign against her.
    — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 30 June 2026
  • John was found guilty of harassing an ex-girlfriend later that same year.
    — Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 28 June 2026
Definition of harassing
Verb
  • Hendry sang, taunting Austin Theory, Logan Paul, Paul Heyman and even Brock Lesnar.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • Though suspicious, the recording was not considered incriminating, as Hodel may have suspected his home was wiretapped and was taunting police.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 June 2026
Definition of taunting
Verb
  • Rumor has it that Steve Spurrier could be the favorite, which would be hilarious given Spurrier's history of tormenting the Vols.
    — Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 16 May 2026
  • But the man hung himself, most likely due to Duncan tormenting him relentlessly like a jock pranking a nerd in an ‘80s campus comedy.
    — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 12 Apr. 2026
Definition of tormenting
Verb
  • Palestra is excellent at baiting defenders into committing to a tackle before racing past them.
    — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 27 June 2026
  • The problem with Fishback’s ideas is that many spring from rage-baiting rhetoric that has little to do with Florida’s current reality— but could attract people who might not otherwise vote.
    — Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 June 2026
Definition of baiting
Verb
  • Bonner brought the bull market with him to CSUF, bringing his pressing, pestering and passionate style of play to a fanbase starved for success.
    — Brian Robin, Oc Register, 8 June 2026
  • The character, Günter Van Ellis (Ivan Sherry), is seen pestering Oh Father (Daveed Diggs) and Homelander at the White House.
    — Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 22 May 2026
Definition of pestering
Verb
  • The necessity of the trip at all is what's been bugging me.
    — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 12 June 2026
  • His doctor had been bugging him for years to get a colonoscopy because of his age, but Driggers declined.
    — The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 June 2026
Definition of bugging
Verb
  • Eventually, Bournemouth were so sick of Sadiki’s hassling that substitute Lewis Cook jutted an elbow at him.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 1 Dec. 2025
Definition of hassling
Verb
  • After teasing us for a while, Volvo finally showed off the EX30 for real in 2023.
    — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 1 July 2026
  • Nike has been teasing its forthcoming partnership with the German team throughout this World Cup.
    — Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 29 June 2026
Definition of teasing

Browse Nearby Words

targeted
targeting
targets
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Cite this Entry

“Targeting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/targeting. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on targeting

Nglish: Translation of targeting for Spanish Speakers

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