Synonyms for teasing
- adjective
- noun
Most common
annoying irritating pestiferous plaguy playful seductive importunate
Synonyms by meaning
Adjective
1. Annoying — causing irritation or annoyance
annoying, irritating, bothersome, pesky informal, vexing, galling, vexatious, pestiferous, plaguy, nettlesome, irksome, troublesome
Other
Noun
1. Ribbing — the act of harassing someone playfully or maliciously, especially by ridicule; provoking someone with…
ribbing, tantalization, tantalisation UK, quizzery dated
Definitions
- adj. 1
Playfully vexing, especially by ridicule.
The children exchanged teasing remarks during recess.
- adj. 2
Causing irritation or annoyance.
The teasing itch from the mosquito bite drove her crazy.
- n. 1
The act of harassing someone playfully or maliciously, especially by ridicule; provoking someone with persistent annoyances; making fun of, making light of someone.
Teasing can be seen as a kind of workplace abuse.
Forms
- Plural
- teasings → ribbings, tantalizations, quizzeries…
Example sentences
- annoying When one is sick, visitors can be rather annoying.
- irritating My neighbor's dog's constant barking is irritating.
- playful The dolphin is an intelligent and playful creature.
- seductive That's a very seductive idea but you should be careful.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| teasing | rising | |
| annoying | rising | |
| irritating | rising | |
| pestiferous | steady | |
| plaguy | rising | |
| playful | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 5 letters
- pesky2
- 6 letters
- vexing2, plaguy
- 7 letters
- mocking2, playful2, galling2, ribbing2, irksome2
- 8 letters
- annoying3, quizzery
- 9 letters
- seductive3, vexatious3, quizzical3
- 10 letters
- irritating4, bothersome3, nettlesome3
- 11 letters
- troublesome3, importunate, pestiferous
- 13 letters
- tantalization, tantalisation
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (pesky2 = 2 syllables).