Taunted

To taunt means to provoke or challenge someone with insulting remarks, jeers, or mockery. It's a deliberate act intended to upset, wound, or incite a reaction, often involving making fun of someone's weaknesses, failures, or vulnerabilities. The goal is typically to demean, belittle, or torment the target, causing them emotional distress or frustration. Taunting can take many forms, from verbal insults to gestures and can be used to test someone’s limits or to assert dominance in some circumstances.

Taunted meaning with examples

• The older kids relentlessly taunted the new student about his clothes and accent, making him dread going to school each day. Their constant ridicule and mocking laughter caused him significant anxiety and made him feel isolated.
• During the sports game, the opposing team's fans taunted the star player with chants about his previous mistakes, hoping to rattle his focus and influence his performance in the game.
• The online trolls taunted the streamer with personal attacks and hateful comments during her live broadcast, leading her to temporarily stop streaming due to the negativity.
• The bully taunted the smaller child, constantly making fun of his appearance and intelligence in the schoolyard, making the child scared of confronting the bully.
• After the politician lost the election, his political opponents taunted him with unflattering comparisons, seeking to further undermine his reputation and authority.