taunt

1 of 2

verb

ˈtȯnt How to pronounce taunt (audio)
ˈtänt
taunted; taunting; taunts

transitive verb

: to reproach or challenge in a mocking or insulting manner : jeer at
taunter noun
tauntingly adverb

taunt

2 of 2

noun

: a sarcastic challenge or insult

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Taunt vs. Taut

Taunt and taut may easily be confused. The words are similar in spelling and pronunciation, though the resemblance does not extent to their syntax or meanings. Taut is an adjective that is most often used to refer to something that is pulled tight, like "a taut rope," or is bulging or filled to capacity, like "taut muscles." Taunt is a noun and a verb that refers to teasing or making fun of a person. That the two words sound similar creates confusion, and taunt, being the more common word, is sometimes substituted for taut. You can remember the difference between the two by remembering that tight and taut both lack the n of taunt.

Choose the Right Synonym for taunt

ridicule, deride, mock, taunt mean to make an object of laughter of.

ridicule implies a deliberate often malicious belittling.

consistently ridiculed everything she said

deride suggests contemptuous and often bitter ridicule.

derided their efforts to start their own business

mock implies scorn often ironically expressed as by mimicry or sham deference.

youngsters began to mock the helpless wino

taunt suggests jeeringly provoking insult or challenge.

hometown fans taunted the visiting team

Examples of taunt in a Sentence

Verb The boys continually taunted each other.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Her lawyers said she was left lying in her own urine on the floor of a cell as jail employees, apparently dismissing her as being drunk, taunted her. Mike Baker, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2024 Less common than posters that scold or taunt or threaten are those that entice people with Earth’s beauty. Jonathon Keats, Forbes, 12 Feb. 2024 Green also exchanged words and taunts throughout the game with Suns center Jusuf Nurkic, the player Green was suspended for hitting in the face Dec. 12. Eric He, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2024 Anybody who has seen the video of Pitt forward Blake Hinson taunting the Duke student section from atop the scorer’s table at Cameron Indoor Stadium last weekend knows that the University of Miami faces a dangerous opponent Saturday afternoon. Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 26 Jan. 2024 Then, once onstage, Drake seemed to taunt the crowd a bit. Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 24 Feb. 2024 The videos keep coming: armed fighters taunting men with their hands tied behind their backs, bodies piled in an open grave. Alexis Okeowo, Vogue, 30 Jan. 2024 Did the Chiefs taunt more with no calls against them? Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 29 Jan. 2024 With the Ravens down by 10 in the third quarter, rookie Zay Flowers caught a 54-yard pass to the Kansas City 10 — then was flagged for taunting after the play. Noah Trister, USA TODAY, 29 Jan. 2024
Noun
Later, when Nurkic disrespectfully turned his back to Green when the Warriors forward had the ball on the perimeter, Green scored over him and traded the taunt back. Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 14 Feb. 2024 Now, the official Saudi response to these taunts is muted, and its policy toward its rivals is conciliatory. Bernard Haykel, Foreign Affairs, 12 Feb. 2024 The decision follows a 2020 incident in which Muller was accused of shouting racial taunts at victim John Mealor, knocking him unconscious before kicking him in the face. Kimmy Yam, NBC News, 26 Jan. 2024 Even with new faces, the taunts and trash talk are plentiful. Schuyler Dixon, USA TODAY, 25 Jan. 2024 Their taunts barely registered above the din of other élite standoffs in recent years: Kanye West vs. Taylor Swift, Chrissy Teigen vs. Alison Roman, Lauren Boebert vs. Marjorie Taylor Greene. Evan Osnos, The New Yorker, 22 Jan. 2024 The crowd might have continued its taunt, but good luck hearing that over the sound of Zach Edey roaring. Gregg Doyel, The Indianapolis Star, 3 Jan. 2024 Graffiti scrawled across the back walls of the Local 50 office appeared to call out the union president and vice president by name with vulgar taunts and slurs. Gabriel San Román, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2023 California poet laureate Lee Herrick joined book clubbers Dec. 12 to perform two poems, recounted sharing his work in schools and at a prison and recalled how a racist taunt helped steer him toward a writing career. Donna Wares, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'taunt.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

perhaps from Middle French tenter to try, tempt — more at tempt

First Known Use

Verb

1539, in the meaning defined above

Noun

circa 1527, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of taunt was circa 1527

Dictionary Entries Near taunt

Cite this Entry

“Taunt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/taunt. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

taunt

verb
ˈtȯnt,
ˈtänt
: to provoke or challenge in a mocking or insulting manner : jeer at
taunt noun
taunter noun
tauntingly
-iŋ-lē
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on taunt

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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