as in teased
to attack repeatedly with mean put-downs or insults
the principal reminded the student athletes that taunting their opponents was not showing good sportsmanship
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Recent Examples of taunted
Edwards taunted Nuggets fans at the end of Minnesota’s Game 7 win in 2024, getting on Jokic’s nerves in the process.
—
Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 25 Apr. 2026
The former South Carolina guard was drafted by the Indiana Fever on Monday, April 13, meaning Johnson and Clark will now be teammates, three years after the former Iowa star taunted Johnson by refusing to defend her in the national semifinal game.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 14 Apr. 2026
Having failed to secure a ticket, I was taunted with pitying one-upmanship by acquaintances who had had more success.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
Iza later taunted the victim by sending him a photograph of the arrest and booking photo.
—City News Service, Daily News, 17 Mar. 2026
And they were taunted by the protesters, getting abused for no reason.
—Emma Rosenblum, Curbed, 12 Mar. 2026
Police say Woods taunted Stewart before pulling the trigger, but the exact motive is unknown.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 15 Feb. 2026
This question has tantalized and taunted Bulls fans for years — and this trade deadline is no different.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
So, while logic suggested the Steelers couldn’t score a touchdown against this Texans team if the game had lasted eight quarters, Rodgers’ past exploits taunted me and kept me from dismissing his cause.
—Michael Silver, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 25 Apr. 2026
The former South Carolina guard was drafted by the Indiana Fever on Monday, April 13, meaning Johnson and Clark will now be teammates, three years after the former Iowa star taunted Johnson by refusing to defend her in the national semifinal game.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 14 Apr. 2026
Having failed to secure a ticket, I was taunted with pitying one-upmanship by acquaintances who had had more success.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
Iza later taunted the victim by sending him a photograph of the arrest and booking photo.
—City News Service, Daily News, 17 Mar. 2026
And they were taunted by the protesters, getting abused for no reason.
—Emma Rosenblum, Curbed, 12 Mar. 2026
Police say Woods taunted Stewart before pulling the trigger, but the exact motive is unknown.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 15 Feb. 2026
This question has tantalized and taunted Bulls fans for years — and this trade deadline is no different.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
So, while logic suggested the Steelers couldn’t score a touchdown against this Texans team if the game had lasted eight quarters, Rodgers’ past exploits taunted me and kept me from dismissing his cause.
—Michael Silver, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taunted
Verb
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Ricky Saints, Joe Hendry and Blake Monroe were teased for this week.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
27 Apr. 2026
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Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy teased the possibility last summer when a reporter asked if a new Penn Station would get a new name.—
Evan Simko-Bednarski,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Few people had Tate mocked to go this high, especially if Arvell Reese was going to be on the board.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
24 Apr. 2026
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Sources at the premiere’s after-party speculated about whether Wintour had given her famous friends the heads-up that they were mocked in a movie that all of Conde had come up to support.—
Matt Donnelly,
Variety,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Taunted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taunted. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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