| Main Entry: | taunt |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | provocation; teasing |
Synonyms: |
backhanded compliment, barb, brickbat, censure, comeback, crack, cut, derision, dig, dirty dig, dump, gibe, insult, jab, jeer, mockery, outrage, parting shot, put-down, reproach, ridicule, sarcasm, slam*, slap, snappy comeback, swipe |
| Notes: | taunt meant to mock or tease someone; taut means tightly stretched or tense |
Antonyms: |
compliment, praise, respect |
| Main Entry: | taunt |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | provoke, reproach; tease |
Synonyms: |
affront, bother, deride, dig*, disdain, dump on, flout, insult, jab, jeer, lout, mock, offend, outrage, put down, quiz, rally, revile, ridicule, scoff at, scorn, scout, slam*, slap, sneer, swipe at, tantalize, torment, twitter, upbraid |
Antonyms: |
compliment, praise, respect |
| Main Entry: | affront |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | insult or involve in entanglement |
Synonyms: |
abuse, anger, annoy, confront, criticize, displease, dispraise, dump on, encounter, face, give a zinger, give the cold shoulder, hit where one lives, meet, offend, outrage, pique, provoke, put down*, slander, slight, taunt, vex |
| Notes: | effrontery means shameless boldness or insulting presumptuousness while an affront is a deliberately offensive act or open insult |
Antonyms: |
appease, assuage, compliment, gratify, mollify, placate, please, satisfy, soothe |
| Main Entry: | banter |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | tease |
Synonyms: |
chaff, deride, fool, fun, jeer, jest, jive, joke, josh, kid, make fun of, mock, rag, razz, rib, ridicule, satirize, taunt |
| Main Entry: | bother |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | harass, annoy; give trouble |
Synonyms: |
afflict, aggravate, agitate, alarm, badger, bedevil, bore, browbeat, carp at, concern, cross, discommode, disconcert, disgust, dismay, displease, disquiet, distress, disturb, eat, embarrass, exacerbate, exasperate, goad, grate on, grieve, harry, hinder, hurt, impede, inconvenience, insult, intrude upon, irk, irritate, molest, nag, needle, nudge, pain, perplex, perturb, pester, pick on, plague, provoke, pursue, put out, ride, scare, spite, tantalize, taunt, tease, torment, trouble, upset, vex, worry |
Antonyms: |
aid, help, please |
| Main Entry: | chaff |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | joke, ridicule |
Synonyms: |
banter, deride, fun, jeer, jolly, josh, kid, mock, rag, rally, razz, rib, scoff, taunt, tease |
| Main Entry: | dare |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | challenge, defiance |
Synonyms: |
cartel, defy, provocation, stump, taunt |
| Main Entry: | dare |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | challenge, defy someone |
Synonyms: |
beard, brave, bully, call one's bluff, confront, cope, denounce, disregard, face, face off, front, goad, insult, knock chip off shoulder, laugh at, make my day, meet, mock, muster courage, oppose, outdare, provoke, resist, run the gauntlet, scorn, spurn, square off, step over the line, take one on, taunt, threaten, throw down gauntlet |
| Main Entry: | deride |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | make fun of; insult |
Synonyms: |
banter, chaff, contemn, detract, dis, disdain, disparage, do a number on, dump on, flout, gibe, jeer, jolly, kid, knock, laugh at, lout, mock, pan, pooh-pooh, put down*, quiz, rag, rally, razz, rib, ridicule, roast, scoff, scorn, slam, sneer, taunt, twit |
Antonyms: |
commend, compliment, flatter, praise, revere |
| Main Entry: | dig |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | insult |
Synonyms: |
crack, cut, cutting remark, gibe, innuendo, jeer, quip, slur, sneer, taunt, wisecrack |
Antonyms: |
compliment, flattery, praise |
