The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 6 letter word TAUNTS
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
T
A
U
N
T
S
Buddy explains!

The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does TAUNTS mean?
TAUNTS noun- A scornful or mocking remark; a jeer or mockery
- To make fun of (someone); to goad (a person) into responding, often in an aggressive manner.