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taunting

[/ˈtɔːntɪŋ/]
verb (present participle)/adjective/noun
zombaria, provocação, escárnio
1. Provoking or challenging someone in a mocking or insulting way
The bully was taunting the younger student about his clothes.
O valentão estava zombando do aluno mais jovem sobre suas roupas.
2. Speaking to someone in a way that is intended to make them angry or upset
She was taunting him with comments about his failed exam.
Ela o estava provocando com comentários sobre seu exame reprovado.
3. Offering something desirable but keeping it out of reach
The dog was taunting the cat by waving the toy in front of it.
O cachorro estava provocando o gato agitando o brinquedo na frente dele.
NYC Slang
clowning, dissing, playing someone, talking trash
Synonyms
mockingjeeringridiculingprovokingneedlingbaiting
Antonyms
complimentingpraisingencouragingsupporting

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
zombaria, provocação, zoação
Most common usage in everyday Brazilian Portuguese
Rio de Janeiro
zoação, gozação
Colloquial and very common in Rio dialect
São Paulo
provocação, zombaria
More formal register commonly used in São Paulo
Portugal
provocação, escárnio, chacota
European Portuguese tends to use more formal terms

Related Idioms & Phrases

taunt someone with something - provocar alguém com algo
salt in the wound - adicionar insulto à injúria
rub it in - esfregar na cara
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