taunting

[tawn-ting, tahn-]

adjective

1. reproaching or challenging someone in a sarcastic, insulting, or scornful way.

   The Times obtained copies of his emails, which our reviewer found unquestionably harassing, with a taunting quality to them.

noun

1. the act or an instance of reproaching or challenging someone in this way.

   The taunting included comments such as "Go home!" and "What are you doing in our country?"

Other Word Forms

• tauntingly adverb
• untaunting adjective
• untauntingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of taunting¹

First recorded in 1540–50; taunt ¹ ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. ) for the adjective; taunt ¹ ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. ) for the noun

Example Sentences

The children carried on at full volume, a cacophony of shouting and taunting and weeping.

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He let Congress take the heat while projecting strength to his base -- and taunting Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer when the fight was over.

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“He was taunting us on social media,” Vega said.

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"It took us a while to figure out the mystery behind these peculiar-looking traces. It was as if they were taunting us with their question mark-like shape," he said.

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They kept biting her, kept taunting her, kept wearing her down.

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Related Words

• acerbic 
• acid 
• arrogant 
• biting 
• bitter 
• brusque 
• caustic 
• derisive 
• disparaging 
• disrespectful 
• mordant 
• sardonic 
• satirical 
• saucy 
• trenchant