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

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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
His gruff mechanic Cooter Davenport is introduced as a hell-raising, uncouth wild man, constantly taunting the authorities and flouting convention. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Aug. 2026 Trump routinely mocks Newsom and refers to the governor using a derogatory nickname, while Newsom taunts the president with frequent social media posts. — Darlene Superville, Fortune, 4 Aug. 2026
Noun
As the players headed to their benches and the officials took their customary walks to the scorer’s table for the time out, Atkinson scrunched his face, stuck out his hands, and mockingly clapped toward Blair — who ignored the obvious taunt. — Joe Vardon, New York Times, 11 May 2026 She was brought up in a fairly strict Muslim family, and wore a hijab as a child, often drawing taunts from other students. — Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 7 May 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
  • Professional athletes have joked about it in the past, with even all-time NBA great LeBron James teasing at a potential college sports journey post-retirement—albeit as more of a joke than an actual plan.
    — Joshua Hong, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The special included 27 minutes of content that revealed cinematic and gameplay scenes throughout the fictional Vice City and teases the overall narrative of the game.
    — Tanya Fedak, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of tease
Noun
  • Instagram rolled out a new logo last week — which instantly drew jeers from some users.
    — Todd Spangler, Variety, 17 Aug. 2026
  • And the jeers that White received from the home crowd at the end of pregame introductions might have spurred energy from the Fever players before and after the tilt.
    — Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of jeer
Verb
  • Her style of rental therapy is to mock, then mend; heckle, then help.
    — Andrea Sachs, Washington Post, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The sources firmly rejected the draft declarations, characterizing them as publicity stunts designed to mock the league, sow division, and draw attention to the topic by demeaning others.
    — Wayne Sterling, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 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
  • To call them journalists would be an insult to the profession.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Aug. 2026
  • The exchange began when Pham criticized Myers over a play, leading to a heated back-and-forth online, with Pham eventually resorting to personal insults.
    — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 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 protagonist is highly vocal, frequently engaging in quips and banter.
    — Gabriel Zamora, PC Magazine, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The quip was a nod to his struggles at the plate for most of this season.
    — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of quip
Noun
  • Cusk’s final affront to the novel is to disaggregate it into unreconciled elements without making any concession to cohesion.
    — Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Medusa is raped by Poseidon, but because Poseidon raped her in Athena’s temple, Athena takes it as an affront and blames Medusa, cursing her by turning her hair into snakes.
    — Erin Qualey, Vulture, 27 July 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 1 Sep. 2026.

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