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Taunt vs. Taut
Taunt and taut may easily be confused. The words are similar in spelling and pronunciation, though the resemblance does not extent to their syntax or meanings. Taut is an adjective that is most often used to refer to something that is pulled tight, like "a taut rope," or is bulging or filled to capacity, like "taut muscles." Taunt is a noun and a verb that refers to teasing or making fun of a person. That the two words sound similar creates confusion, and taunt, being the more common word, is sometimes substituted for taut. You can remember the difference between the two by remembering that tight and taut both lack the n of taunt.
Examples of taunt in a Sentence
Andy Andersen, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2024
Oz taunts Sal, saying Sofia has him on a tight leash, only for Sal to taunt Oz right back, reminding him that Sofia has taken Oz’s mother.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 4 Nov. 2024
Brian Mazique, Forbes, 28 Sep. 2024
Between the lines: Trump and Obama loathe each other, and the attacks between them veer into race-baiting and schoolyard taunts.
—Alex Thompson, Axios, 1 Nov. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Taunt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/taunt. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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