Teasing or mocking someone in a mean way, often trying to provoke them or hurt their feelings.
From Old French 'tanter' meaning to attempt or tempt. The word may derive from Latin 'tentare' meaning to try or test. Over time it specialized to mean teasing in an attempt to provoke anger.
Researchers found that people who taunt others often have lower emotional intelligence—they literally don't understand how their words affect others because their brains aren't reading social cues correctly!
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