taunt1
[tawnt, tahnt]
- to reproach in a sarcastic, insulting, or jeering manner; mock.
- to provoke by taunts; twit.
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- an insulting gibe or sarcasm; scornful reproach or challenge.
- Obsolete. an object of insulting gibes or scornful reproaches.
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Origin of taunt1
First recorded in 1505–15; origin uncertain
Synonyms
See more synonyms for taunt on Thesaurus.com1. censure, upbraid, flout, insult. 2, 3. jeer. See ridicule. 3. scoff, derision, insult, censure, ridicule.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for taunting
Contemporary Examples
And even as he plots defenses against American and allied air raids, he is taunting Vladimir Putin and his allies in Grozny.
Or maybe you want to watch while she cheats on you, taunting you, forcing you to get involved in humiliating ways.
It looked as though New York's City Hall had been overtaken by smokers intent on taunting Michael Bloomberg one last time.
They seem content to hold what they have, clashing regularly, testing and taunting each other.
He believed students were taunting him, driving by his home at all hours of the night and honking a car horn.
The Professor and the Doomsday Clock: ‘A Confederacy of Dunces’ & Signs of John Kennedy Toole’s SuicideCory MacLauchlin
December 17, 2012
Historical Examples
Only two days since he had heard the taunting “Dance, freshy!”
A Breath of Prairie and other storiesWill Lillibridge
But the boys only laughed, and began again the taunting song.
Polly of Lady Gay CottageEmma C. Dowd
Scott, now taunting Levake openly, stepped directly in front of him.
The Mountain DivideFrank H. Spearman
And mock'd, with taunting scorn, the tearsThat bathed a father's cheek.
The Liberty MinstrelGeorge W. Clark
The taunting words "spare your country's flag" have struck home.
The Ontario High School ReaderA.E. Marty
taunt1
- to provoke or deride with mockery, contempt, or criticism
- to tease; tantalize
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- a jeering remark
- archaic the object of mockery
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Word Origin
C16: from French phrase tant pour tant like for like, rejoinder
taunt2
- nautical (of the mast or masts of a sailing vessel) unusually tall
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Word Origin
C15: of uncertain origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for taunting
taunt
n.
1520s, from taunt (v.).
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taunt
v.
1510s, possibly from Middle French tanter, tenter "to tempt, try, provoke," variant of tempter "to try" (see tempt). Or from Middle French tant pour tant "so much for so much, tit for tat," on notion of "sarcastic rejoinder." Related: Taunted; taunting.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper