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

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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
At Texas Tech, an undergraduate was arrested after taunting a Kirk mourner. — Benjamin Wofford, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026 The Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) announced an investigation after Al Hilal midfielder Ruben Neves appeared to be taunted by the chants during their away league win on Saturday. — Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026
Noun
Fatu tagged in and faced off with Sikoa, who immediately hit him with a Samoan Drop and mocked Fatu’s signature taunt. — Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026 Recounting her boyfriend calling the police on her during their fraught break-up, the chorus rings out over rowdy snares like a brutal playground taunt. — Will Pritchard, Pitchfork, 20 July 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
  • When appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon last week, the Canadian pop singer teased the single.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Mahomes began teasing the collection last week with several posts on her Instagram.
    — Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of tease
Noun
  • In the Premier League, leader Manchester City ignored jeers from Liverpool fans to seal a 3-0 statement win in its first game since the club was found guilty of a raft of financial breaches.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Cheers, jeers, and energetic call-and-response exchanges echoed through the hall as the audience, dressed in bright green, pink, and red, some wearing candidate T-shirts, listened.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of jeer
Verb
  • Critics mocked Zacharia’s performance during her first and last press conference on Tuesday, and ripped her for describing herself as an attorney, despite having never passed the bar exam.
    — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The Difference Between Names And Dynamics Richard Feynman recalled being mocked by another child for not knowing a bird’s name.
    — Pravir Malik, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of mock
Noun
  • Monica Bellucci’s sneer is a thing of wonder, so why have so few directors used it properly?
    — Jay Weissberg, Variety, 8 Aug. 2026
  • The film’s sincerity — the quality critics praised most — was met with a sneer rather than a response.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 6 July 2026
Definition of sneer
Noun
  • But even with such attitudinal strides, Pew Research shows that people’s fears about AI’s societal impact are high, and digital choirs hurl insults at any project featuring the tech.
    — Corbin Bolies, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Continue reading … SOUR NOTE — Hayley Williams unleashes vulgar insult at DHS after agency defends ICE officers.
    — , FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of insult
Noun
  • Just seconds later, in a separate incident, the Brazilian F50 was about to go into a standard jibe maneuver (turning the boat through the wind to change direction) but disintegrated in the blink of an eye.
    — Andrew Rice, New York Times, 20 Aug. 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
  • The main culprit this past weekend was an observational quip Gillis made about how women dress in the gym.
    — Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Beneath his commentary on trending topics and crowd interactions are anecdotes inspired by Brookzz’s family and his personal life, giving the debut a hint of intimacy and a glimpse into the man behind the charming grin and witty quips.
    — Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of quip
Noun
  • Christophe Hansen, the European Union's Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, denounced the attack as an affront on European food safety.
    — Robert McGreevy, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
  • As Haitians on both sides of the island took sides, Dominican authorities demanded an apology, nationalists denounced the statement as an affront to Dominican sovereignty, and Haiti’s foreign ministry distanced the government from it.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 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 21 Oct. 2026.

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