taunt 1 of 2

verb

ˈtȯnt How to pronounce taunt (audio)
Definition of tauntnext
as in to tease
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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taunt

2 of 2

noun

as in jeer

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word taunt distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of taunt are deride, mock, and ridicule. While all these words mean "to make an object of laughter of," taunt suggests jeeringly provoking insult or challenge.

hometown fans taunted the visiting team

When could deride be used to replace taunt?

The words deride and taunt are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, deride suggests contemptuous and often bitter ridicule.

derided their efforts to start their own business

When would mock be a good substitute for taunt?

Although the words mock and taunt have much in common, mock implies scorn often ironically expressed as by mimicry or sham deference.

youngsters began to mock the helpless wino

In what contexts can ridicule take the place of taunt?

The synonyms ridicule and taunt are sometimes interchangeable, but ridicule implies a deliberate often malicious belittling.

consistently ridiculed everything she said

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 taunt
Verb
Tournament favorites France, for example, have so thoroughly taunted and tormented their opponents that anything short of the final would seem an injustice at this point. — Mark Sappenfield, Christian Science Monitor, 30 June 2026 Hendry sang, taunting Austin Theory, Logan Paul, Paul Heyman and even Brock Lesnar. — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Noun
The bright, cheery room, decorated with technicolor serapes and paintings of idyllic tropical-village scenes, felt almost like a taunt. — Daniel Brook, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026 While on-ice taunts have become rarer due to the risk of drawing an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, content creators have filled the chirping void with ‘golf season’ parodies. — Mike Dojc, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for taunt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taunt
  1. tease
  2. jeer
  3. mock
  4. sneer
  5. insult
  6. gibe
  7. quip
  8. affront
Verb
  • While the flagship movie franchise is coming to an end, Diesel previously teased that NBCUniversal has four TV shows in development from the Fast & Furious world.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 4 July 2026
  • The featurette teases Zada as Haymitch, with scenes ranging from the literal sunrise on his Reaping Day to Capitol interviews to the Games itself.
    — Mya Copeland, Variety, 4 July 2026
Definition of tease
Noun
  • Clark's jeers came at Shinnecock Hills in the Hamptons, roughly 60 miles away from Bethpage Black, where fans became the subject of controversy during the Ryder Cup.
    — Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2026
  • And all game long, Canada outclassed South Africa, who at times appeared content to hold the ball and take the game to a penalty shootout (earning jeers from the Canada-heavy crowd).
    — Sean Gregory, Time, 29 June 2026
Definition of jeer
Verb
  • In the weeks leading up to the June 26 release of the film, men mocked 26-year-old Alcock’s appearance across social media.
    — Tiffany Kelly, Entertainment Weekly, 30 June 2026
  • Each sketch was packed with mocking details, such as long red ties, Big Macs and lots and lots of gold, to drive home her point.
    — Jan Ellen Spiegel, Hartford Courant, 29 June 2026
Definition of mock
Noun
  • With his rakish sneer and ruthlessly tight jodhpurs, Rupert has been thoroughly neutered with irony, transformed into an object for women to pick at.
    — Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 10 June 2026
  • Of course, the prospect of one of the greatest women’s footballers in history skittering around Bromley on a Saturday lunchtime in front of a smattering of fans inevitably inspires sneers.
    — Megan Feringa, New York Times, 27 May 2026
Definition of sneer
Noun
  • According to Spell and members of his congregation, the man had a history of verbally harassing them with threats, insults and racial slurs.
    — Drew Pittock, USA Today, 25 June 2026
  • Michael Lind, the writer and New America co-founder, argues in Commonplace, the magazine of Oren Cass’s American Compass, that a decent wage and a safety net should be enough, and that handing workers a stake in capital insults the dignity of their labor.
    — Teresa Ghilarducci, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
Definition of insult
Noun
  • In the final race, when Canfield was vying with Slingsby for the lead at the first turning mark, the Australians foiled through their first jibe and into a commanding lead.
    — Andrew Rice, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2026
  • Mamdani hit back at Tuberville’s jibe, which falsely suggested that Mamdani or Muslims support terrorism.
    — Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 13 Mar. 2026
Definition of gibe
Noun
  • Roberts’s quip foreshadowed his opinion on behalf of the Court holding that near-universal birthright citizenship is guaranteed by the text of the Fourteenth Amendment’s citizenship clause.
    — Amanda Frost, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026
  • These mostly harmless quips resemble the type of pettiness that once ran roughshod across the Lone Star State, back when eight Texas programs were members of the Southwest Conference.
    — Sam Khan Jr, New York Times, 1 July 2026
Definition of quip
Noun
  • Several independent Turkish media outlets were denied accreditation to cover an upcoming NATO summit in Ankara, journalism groups said Thursday, calling the decision an affront to media freedoms.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 June 2026
  • Messi began the face-off yesterday by scoring twice at lunchtime in Dallas, but Mbappe and Haaland appeared to see that as a personal affront, matching him as the sun set in Philadelphia and New Jersey.
    — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 23 June 2026
Definition of affront

Browse Nearby Words

taught
taunt
taunted
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Cite this Entry

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

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More from Merriam-Webster on taunt

Nglish: Translation of taunt for Spanish Speakers

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