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
-
tauntsimple
-
tauntssimple
-
have tauntedperfect
-
has tauntedperfect
-
am tauntingprogressive
-
are tauntingprogressive
-
is tauntingprogressive
-
have been tauntingperfect progressive
-
has been tauntingperfect progressive
Past
-
tauntedsimple
-
had tauntedperfect
-
was tauntingprogressive
-
were tauntingprogressive
-
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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Crossover
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
Madalon refused to see the old hardware as a taunt.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 28, 2026
The residents cheer and taunt and follow from a safe distance.
From Slate ● Feb. 11, 2026
Smith was sacked as captain as a result of the ball-tampering episode against South Africa and it is often used by England fans as a taunt to the 36-year-old.
From BBC ● Nov. 20, 2025
It’s a mean taunt that comes from a sibling, unaware that civilization is crumpling around him.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 26, 2025
His tone is somewhere between a tease and a taunt.
From "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents" by Julia Alvarez
One of the most famous episodes in Homer’s poem finds Odysseus and his men facing the Cyclops Polyphemus in his cave, where their struggle becomes a battle of wits: lies, taunts, a drunken ruse.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 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
Smith, who has been the target of England fans' taunts since his role in the 2018 ball-tampering incident against South Africa, saw them though.
From BBC ● Nov. 21, 2025
First he would do his exercises and run around the ouse, oblivious to the taunts of the hardy peasants looking on.
From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende
That’s why Ham is swift to insist he’s being taunted, even when he’s not.
From Salon ● Jul. 10, 2026
The few protesters taunted the agents, who mostly amused themselves.
From Slate ● May 29, 2026
While in Japan in 2023, he taunted locals with, among other things, his comments on the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during the final days of World War Two.
From BBC ● Apr. 15, 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
“Because none of you are really looking,” the voice taunted.
From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton
The Wrigley faithful turned up the heat, taunting “Skuuuuubaaaaalll.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026
England flanker Henry Pollock added to the decibels in the hours before Wednesday's match, with footage emerging of the 21-year-old back row taunting local football fans gathering for the match in Plaza de la Republica.
From BBC ● Jul. 16, 2026
Sean Duffy is even taunting Pete Buttigieg about it, in a bout of dreaded intra–transportation secretary violence.
From Slate ● May 5, 2026
From my perspective as a political philosopher, these and other similar claims indicate he is speaking falsely as a way of demeaning or taunting his detractors.
From Salon ● Apr. 13, 2026
He’s barking round the tree and the squirrel’s skittering back and forth on the tree trunk, taunting him.
From "The Knife of Never Letting Go" by Patrick Ness
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
