taunt
1 Americanverb (used with object)
-
taunts,
present (3rd person singular)
-
taunted,
past participle, past
-
taunting
present participle
adjective
verb
-
to provoke or deride with mockery, contempt, or criticism
-
to tease; tantalize
noun
-
a jeering remark
-
archaic the object of mockery
adjective
Synonym Usage
See ridicule.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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tauntsimple
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tauntssimple
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have tauntedperfect
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has tauntedperfect
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am tauntingprogressive
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are tauntingprogressive
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is tauntingprogressive
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have been tauntingperfect progressive
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has been tauntingperfect progressive
Past
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tauntedsimple
-
had tauntedperfect
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was tauntingprogressive
-
were tauntingprogressive
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had been tauntingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of taunt1
First recorded in 1505–15; origin uncertain
Origin of taunt2
First recorded in 1490–1500; origin uncertain
Explanation
A short list of people not to taunt: your big brother, nightclub bouncers, evil wizards. Taunts are insulting comments, and, unless you are a really, really fast runner, keep them to yourself. Taunting is often associated with large groups picking on an individual. A mob might call out a hated king from his castle with taunts and jeers. Bullying can also take the form of taunting — something that teachers, administrators, parents, and students are working together to stop.
Vocabulary lists containing taunt
List 4
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The Crossover
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The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Not only did Clark’s team go on to win, the taunt — much like a number of other moments involving the sharpshooting former Hawkeye — went viral.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 14, 2026
The residents cheer and taunt and follow from a safe distance.
From Slate ● Feb. 11, 2026
Then, Anthropic unveiled Super Bowl ads that taunt rival OpenAI.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 6, 2026
One thing's for sure: "You Can't See Me" might be the taunt Cena gives Gunther, but the last fight will be seen and remembered by many.
From BBC ● Dec. 12, 2025
Occasionally, Woo leaps over a trash can or a recycling bin, as if to taunt me for my lack of hops.
From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer
The first round, he toys with Rocky—stinging jabs, taunts.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 11, 2026
Her dreams propelled Jackson toward college — as did a need to avenge the childhood taunts that echoed in his head.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 17, 2026
“Melania” taunts the viewer and takes glee in the assumption that they can’t do anything about it.
From Salon ● Feb. 1, 2026
Thomas Frank said the "boring Tottenham" taunts from his own club's fans were understandable after they were held to a dour 0-0 draw by Brentford on Thursday.
From Barron's ● Jan. 1, 2026
A red-haired, freckle-faced girl, the one who taunts me in homeroom, keeps trailing me in the hallway between classes.
From "Warriors Don't Cry: A Searing Memoir of the Battle to Integrate Little Rock's Central High" by Melba Pattillo Beals
After being taunted for bringing her toys, Bonnie is embarrassed but determined to get in with the cool group, leaving her toys outside to be returned to the wrong address by a stranger.
From Salon ● Jun. 21, 2026
The few protesters taunted the agents, who mostly amused themselves.
From Slate ● May 29, 2026
Lucia’s neighbor Steve Chessare lobbied him, telling the story of being taunted for the Millionaire name the year his basketball team won the state championship in 1974.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 22, 2026
The Lancers were particularly excited because Champlin taunted them after saving Wednesday’s 4-1 win, leading to shoving and pushing after the game.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 2, 2026
How many times had he been taunted by Morris’s death?
From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro
Earlier in the week, Carney criticized taunting of Canada by U.S. officials, and said it was not constructive toward resolving outstanding trade issues.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 2026
The Wrigley faithful turned up the heat, taunting “Skuuuuubaaaaalll.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026
Never mind their dozens of targeted social media posts and years of taunting.
From Salon ● Jun. 25, 2026
Owner Tara Zaman said they targeted the shop several times, "taking things" and "taunting" and "tormenting" her staff.
From BBC ● May 7, 2026
The idea that I’ve wounded the brute’s tiny cat feelings just invites further taunting.
From "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
