adj

taunting

TAWNT-ihng

Taunting (adj) means mocking or provocative in tone. Example: “He gave a taunting grin before taking the penalty.”

adj

Mocking or provocative in tone.

"He gave a taunting grin before taking the penalty."

noun

The act of mocking or provoking someone with insults.

"The referee cracked down on taunting between the two teams."

How to Use Taunting

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishMocking behaviour or speech meant to provoke someone.

Common pairings

taunting remarks a taunting tone

more taunting comparative, tauntings plural, most taunting superlative

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Can you complete this real example?

He gave a _____ grin before taking the penalty.

From taunt plus -ing.

bunting hunting mounting counting haunting grunting daunting flaunting accounting

What does “taunting” mean?

The word “taunting” means mocking or provocative in tone. In plain terms, mocking behaviour or speech meant to provoke someone.

How do you pronounce “taunting”?

“Taunting” is pronounced TAWNT-ihng (/ˈtɔnt.ɪŋ/ in IPA).

How do you use “taunting” in a sentence?

Here is “taunting” used in a sentence: “He gave a taunting grin before taking the penalty.”

What part of speech is “taunting”?

Depending on how it is used, “taunting” can be an adjective and a noun.

How many meanings does “taunting” have?

“Taunting” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: mocking or provocative in tone.