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Taunt vs Harass - What's the difference?

taunt | harass |

As verbs the difference between taunt and harass

is that taunt is to make fun of (someone); to goad (a person) into responding, often in an aggressive manner while harass is to fatigue or to tire with repeated and exhausting efforts.

As nouns the difference between taunt and harass

is that taunt is a scornful or mocking remark; a jeer or mockery while harass is devastation; waste.

As an adjective taunt

is very high or tall.

taunt

English

Etymology 1

Verb

(en verb)
  • to make fun of (someone); to (a person) into responding, often in an aggressive manner.

    • Noun

    (en noun)
  • A scornful or mocking remark; a jeer or mockery

    • Etymology 2

    Compare (etyl) . See ataunt.

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (nautical) Very high or tall.
    • a ship with taunt masts
    (Totten)

    harass

    English

    Verb

    (es)
  • To fatigue or to tire with repeated and exhausting efforts.
  • *
    • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=4 , passage=No matter how early I came down, I would find him on the veranda, smoking cigarettes, or
  • To annoy endlessly or systematically; to molest.
  • * 1877 , (Anna Sewell), (Black Beauty) Chapter 23[http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Black_Beauty/23]
    • In my old home, I always knew that John and my master were my friends; but here, although in many ways I was well treated, I had no friend. York might have known, and very likely did know, how that rein harassed me; but I suppose he took it as a matter of course that could not be helped; at any rate nothing was done to relieve me.
  • To put excessive burdens upon; to subject to anxieties.
    • in the early 1940s.

    Synonyms

    * hassle * harry * chivy or chivvy * chevy or chevvy * beset * plague * molest * provoke

    Derived terms

    * harasser * harassment

    External links

    * *

    Noun

  • (obsolete) devastation; waste
    • (Milton)
  • (obsolete) worry; harassment
    • (Byron)