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taunting

taunting

5.8
Saying things that make fun of someone to upset them
  • adjective
  • /ˈtɔːntɪŋ/
  • Offensive
translation icon : burlón
  • During the game, the fans were taunting their rivals with clever chants.

Examples

  • "I saw you!" His voice was more taunting but less certain.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • Stop with your taunting, say your denture denture, sorry your denture.

  • The bully's taunting remarks made the new student feel unwelcome.

  • She couldn't ignore his taunting laughter after she missed the shot.

Synonyms

snide
vstaunting
26 7.5

Saying mocking or hurtful things in a quiet indirect way

aims outwardly to provoke or upset directly rather than being sly
derisive
vstaunting
  • Offensive
9 7.7

Showing you do not respect someone and think they are silly

aims to provoke or upset rather than only express contempt
mocking
vstaunting
2 4.5

Making fun of someone to show you do not respect them

aims to provoke or upset the person rather than just show scorn
jeering
vstaunting
  • Offensive
7.2

Using rude words or loud laughter to show dislike

focuses on provoking or upsetting an individual rather than just being loud

How Mocking

humiliating
  • Offensive
80 4.5
scornful
7 5.1
derisive
  • Offensive
9 7.7
mocking
2 4.5
taunting
  • Offensive
5.8
teasing
2.7

Surface Forms

taunting positive

Morphology

taunting = taunt (transparent) = taunt + ing

The adjective is the present-participial adjective formed from the verb 'taunt' with '-ing', and its meaning is predictably derived from that verb.

Etymology

Taunting comes from the verb taunt, based on older words that meant 'to provoke' or 'to test' someone. That's why a taunting look or remark is one that is meant to upset or get a reaction.