Synonyms for tantalize
Most common
Definitions
- v. 1
To tease (someone) by offering or showing them something desirable but leaving them unsatisfied.
Related words
- Word family
- tantalization tantalizing
- Other spellings
- tantalise UK
Forms
- Past participle
- tantalized
e.g. tantalized → teased, taunted, provoked, frustrated…
Choose the right word
To tantalize, a much stronger term, describes a most distressing form of disappointment, as in the case of Tantalus, the Phrygian king. To tantalize is to visit with the bitterest disappointment
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Example sentences
- ride Can you give me a ride to the office on Wednesday?
- frustrate Tom secretly attempted to frustrate Mary's plans.
- taunt The boy continued to taunt his younger brother.
- razz Every time the woman teacher passed the school yard, someone gave her the razz.
- disappoint Don't disappoint me the way you did the other day.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| tantalize | rising | |
| ride | rising | |
| frustrate | falling | |
| taunt | rising | |
| razz | rising | |
| disappoint | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 3 letters
- cod1, rag1, vex1
- 4 letters
- ride1, bait1, mock1, twit, razz
- 5 letters
- worry2, rally2, tease1, annoy2, taunt1
- 6 letters
- plague1, pester2
- 7 letters
- provoke2, torment2, bedevil3
- 8 letters
- distress2, irritate3
- 9 letters
- frustrate2
- 10 letters
- disappoint3
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (worry2 = 2 syllables).