taunts
Bully's verbal arsenal
Taunts are mocking remarks intended to provoke, humiliate, or wound.
The word covers both the act and its content—someone hurls taunts, and those taunts sting: The crowd's taunts grew louder as he walked off the field.
To taunt is to deliver such provocations: She taunted him about his failure.
Taunting often aims to goad someone into a reaction.
Vocal expression of scorn
- heckleHarass a performer verbally
- catcallHarassing shout or whistle
- booShout to startle or jeer
- razzPlayful verbal teasing
scoff · sneer · gibe · hoot · deride · ridicule · mock · snicker
Contemptuous mocking treatment
- derisionContemptuous mockery
- sarcasmIrony used to mock
- parodySatirical imitation
- satireMockery exposing vice
lampoon · caricature · mimicry · scoffing · sneering · irony · burlesque · send-up
Painful awareness of failure
- embarrassCause social discomfort
- degradeLower in standing
- demeanLower in standing
- belittleTo make something seem unimportant
mortify · ridicule · dishonor · abase · disgrace · scorn · contempt · indignity
Insulting group label
put-down · diss · barb · snub · disparagement · belittle · demean · denigrate
Incite to action
- baitLure for prey
- needlePointed implement for sewing
- prodJab to spur action
- incitementProvoking unlawful behavior
antagonize · dare · challenge · rile · wind-up · spur · instigation · baiting
jeer
Vocal expression of scorn
razz · scoff · sneer · gibe · hoot · deride · ridicule · mock · snicker · tease
ridicule
Contemptuous mocking treatment
satire · lampoon · caricature · mimicry · scoffing · sneering · irony · burlesque · send-up · jesting
shame
Painful awareness of failure
belittle · mortify · ridicule · dishonor · abase · disgrace · scorn · contempt · indignity
slur
Insulting group label
affront · put-down · diss · barb · snub · disparagement · belittle · demean · denigrate · disrespect
goad
Incite to action
incitement · antagonize · dare · challenge · rile · wind-up · spur · instigation · baiting · provoking
menace
Source of potential harm
harassment · torment · harass · hound · badger · persecute · victimize
- tauntsneener neener, insults, insult, insulting, in your face
- petty behaviorsspite, malice, meanness, nastiness, bitterness
- social frictioninsults, barbs, slights, jibes, snubs
- mocksmocks, teases, ridicules, jeers, derides
- Wrestling GamesWWE, WWF, WWE Raw, wrestling ring, wrestlers
- dark witblack humor, dark humor, sardonic humor, caustic wit, biting wit
tauntspraise
Expression of approval
compliments · acclaim · acclamation · accolades · commendations
tauntsencouragement
Support spurring continued effort
encouragements · affirmations · reassurances · kind words · cheering on
tauntscheers
Casual toast or farewell
standing ovations · toasts · honors · celebrations · rallying cries
- playground tauntsMocking remarks among children
taunt, taunting, taunted, tauntingly, taunter, taunters, tauntings