How do you pronounce taunt?

The recorded pronunciation is /tɔnt/.

taunt

/tɔnt/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.96 in modern English

Syllables: taunt
IPA: /tɔnt/

Scrabble Score

Letters

Syllables

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To make fun of (someone); to goad (a person) into responding, often in an aggressive manner.

Transitive verb

noun

A scornful or mocking remark; a jeer or mockery.

adj

Very high or tall.

Obsolete

name

A surname.

Example Sentences

"John taunts his brother to reveal his hiding spot."
"VVith ſcoffes and ſcornes, and contumelious taunts, / In open Market-place produc't they me, / To be a publique ſpectacle to all: / Here, ſayd they, is the Terror of the French, / The Scar-Crovv that affrights our Children ſo."
"The attacks and the failure to catch the killer created an atmosphere of fear and dismay throughout Yorkshire, and provoked grim taunts to the police at Leeds United football matches such as “Ripper 10, Police nil”"
"the great ships, for want of ſufficient masts, will lose the advantages the taunt masts would procure"

Etymology

From Middle French tanter (“to tempt, try, provoke”), variant of Old French tempter (“to try”). Doublet of tempt.

Origin

Source language: Middle French

Word Breakdown

Root: tanter, tempter, tant, tantus

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /tɔnt/
British English: /tɔːnt/

Usage

Inflected Forms

taunts (present, singular) taunting (participle, present) taunted (participle, past) taunted (past) taunts (plural) more taunt (comparative) most taunt (superlative)

Derived Forms

taunter untaunted

Phrases

playground taunt

Synonyms

twit taunting tease razz rag cod tantalize tantalise bait rally ride

Rhymes With

haunt conte flaunt gaunt jaunt daunt schwandt laplant pylant gauntt poissant aunt