target 1 of 2

noun

ˈtär-gət How to pronounce target (audio)
Definition of targetnext
1
as in victim
a person or thing that is the object of abuse, criticism, or ridicule the hapless vice president quickly became the favorite target of late-night comedians

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2
as in joke
a person or thing that is made fun of a badly made TV commercial that became the target of lots of jokes

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3
as in goal
something that one hopes or intends to accomplish our target is to raise $100,000 for a new playground by August

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target

2 of 2

verb

as in to taunt

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Example Sentences

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 target
Noun
That’s why even just the Trump administration’s first strike against its targets—a mass curtailment of science-research funding—could end up being felt by students right away. — Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 30 Mar. 2025 The 2032 Olympics in Brisbane, Ruthe adds, would be a nice target. — George Ramsay and Patrick Snell, CNN Money, 29 Mar. 2025
Verb
The cuts come as President Donald Trump and Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency target a long list of government programs and federal jobs for sweeping cuts in recent months. — Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2025 The two trees were impacted in 1994 when a Cessna airplane targeted and crashed into the White House Grounds. — Rachel Raposas, People.com, 31 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for target
Recent Examples of Synonyms for target
  1. victim
  2. joke
  3. goal
  4. taunt
  5. prey
  6. mock
  7. aim
  8. harass
Noun
  • Once identified, the kit dynamically loads a counterfeit login page tailored to that provider, often with the victim’s email address already filled in.
    — Alex Vakulov, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
  • The gallery was filled with the victim’s friends, colleagues and family.
    — Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Mar. 2025
Definition of victim
Noun
  • Meanwhile, Corden, as the event’s emcee, made some uncomfortable jokes about the Dow dropping 2200 points last Friday.
    — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2025
  • After Wil Trapp scored a rare goal in Minnesota United’s 2-1 win over New York City on Sunday — and the midfielder did so from outside the 18-yard box — Michael Boxall had jokes ready for his teammate and friend in the visiting locker room at Yankee Stadium.
    — Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 6 Apr. 2025
Definition of joke
Noun
  • Be open to learning from experience, from customers and from the market itself, and adjust your goals, personality and identity as necessary.
    — Sabine Leveiller, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
  • Providence 2, Kankakee 0 Providence (7-0): Lydia Arrigoni goal.
    — Josh Krockey, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of goal
Verb
  • That didn’t stop the state Democratic Party from taunting the freshman congressman with a news release hours before the event that asked why Evans wouldn’t conduct the town hall in person.
    — John Aguilar, Denver Post, 2 Apr. 2025
  • In a great scene in the 2013 movie 42, Rickey (played by Harrison Ford) taunts the young athlete with racist jabs.
    — Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2025
Definition of taunt
Noun
  • The artifacts, researchers say, could help shed light on the complex ways in which ancient humans hunted for their prey and fixed their broken belongings.
    — Livia Albeck-Ripka, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Now, with rising temperatures signaling the start of mating season and the return of prey, snakes are back on the move — and encounters with humans become far more likely.
    — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025
Definition of prey
Noun
  • Another interesting part of this mock is the Cleveland Browns pull a similar move as the Giants and trade up for quarterback Jaxon Dart.
    — Lee Habeeb, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Apr. 2025
  • In The Athletic’s beat writer mock last week, the Rams indeed traded down in a deal with the Buffalo Bills that required just two picks from the Chiefs’ top AFC rival.
    — Nate Taylor, The Athletic, 24 Mar. 2025
Definition of mock
Noun
  • The aim to maximally make paperclips would be referred to as an end goal or terminal goal.
    — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
  • That’s Toyota’s stance, and the Crown is one of several models the automaker offers that follow what has been proven a prescient aim.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 3 Apr. 2025
Definition of aim
Verb
  • Tesla drivers say they’re being harassed on road 02:27 Problems with sales outside United States Tesla does not break out its sales by market.
    — Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 2 Apr. 2025
  • At the top of the witness list, which came in alphabetical order, is Aidan Kearney, a local news blogger who was charged with harassing and intimidating witnesses during the first trial.
    — Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 31 Mar. 2025
Definition of harass

Browse Nearby Words

tardy
target
targeted
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Cite this Entry

“Target.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/target. Accessed 11 Apr. 2025.

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