TARGETING Synonyms: 63 Similar and Opposite Words

targeting

verb

present participle of target

as in harassing

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of targeting Taylor, a fluid 6-foot-5, is already the Jets’ second-best receiver and plays with a quarterback, Justin Fields, who is prone to targeting tight ends — fifth-highest tight end target rate since 2021, and Cole Kmet had a career-high 719 yards with Fields as his quarterback in 2023. — Jacob Robinson, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for targeting

Verb

Federal authorities on Thursday charged a Boston-area man with harassing Katie Miller, the conservative podcaster and wife of senior White House aide Stephen Miller, in a case that sparked a heated debate among prosecutors and within the FBI.

— Jeremy Roebuck, Washington Post, 1 Oct. 2026
The Lincoln-Way East High School board voted to allow six students accused of racially harassing students from Homewood-Flossmoor to withdraw.

— Darius Johnson, CBS News, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of harassing

Verb

After jawing with Oregon players, the junior linebacker was seen taunting the Oregon sideline and celebrating on his way back to USC’s side of the field.

— Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026
Afroman went on to publish songs and music videos taunting the deputies, including one called Lemon Pound Cake that mocked the portly deputy for his apparent interest in the cake.

— Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of taunting

Verb

This shift from just hating and tormenting Mozart, and expanding that rage against God and his own mediocrity is what makes this play so profound and distinctive.

— Doni Wilson, Houston Chronicle, 30 Sep. 2026
The migraine tormenting the 32-year-old in April was even worse than usual.

— Washington Post, Washington Post, 27 Sep. 2026

Definition of tormenting

Verb

But someone needs to jar Bell's memory and adjust his grasp of facts to get him off this race-baiting narrative.

— Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 Oct. 2026
Our top picks include the second season of a stylish video game spin-off anime and an Emmy-baiting prestige drama.

— K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of baiting

Verb

Children became the sales force, pestering their parents for the latest product.

— Andrew Silow-Carroll, Sun Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026
In the clip shared on social media, the bird appears poised to go after a second player before veering off at the last moment, then continues pestering several others on the field until the referee is forced to pause the game.

— Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of pestering

Browse Nearby Words

targeted

targeting

targets

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Style

“Targeting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/targeting. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of targeting

verb

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