tease 1 of 2

Definition of teasenext

tease

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb tease contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of tease are annoy, harass, harry, pester, plague, and worry. While all these words mean "to disturb or irritate by persistent acts," tease suggests an attempt to break down one's resistance or rouse to wrath.

children teased the dog

In what contexts can annoy take the place of tease?

While in some cases nearly identical to tease, annoy implies disturbing one's composure or peace of mind by intrusion, interference, or petty attacks.

you're doing that just to annoy me

When would harass be a good substitute for tease?

In some situations, the words harass and tease are roughly equivalent. However, harass implies petty persecutions or burdensome demands that exhaust one's nervous or mental power.

harassed on all sides by creditors

When can harry be used instead of tease?

Although the words harry and tease have much in common, harry may imply heavy oppression or maltreatment.

the strikers had been harried by thugs

Where would pester be a reasonable alternative to tease?

The synonyms pester and tease are sometimes interchangeable, but pester stresses the repetition of petty attacks.

constantly pestered with trivial complaints

When might plague be a better fit than tease?

The words plague and tease can be used in similar contexts, but plague implies a painful and persistent affliction.

plagued all her life by poverty

When is it sensible to use worry instead of tease?

The words worry and tease are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, worry implies an incessant goading or attacking that drives one to desperation.

pursued a policy of worrying the enemy

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 tease
Noun
His season ends with a heart attack, mirroring his father’s cause of death — and a major tease for his story continuation in the One Golden Summer novel. Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 11 June 2026 The tease suggests the dishes will launch soon. Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 9 June 2026
Verb
The Multi-App Workflows Google Promised Aren't Here This latest Android 17 rollout doesn't include some of the deep, cross-app agentic workflows Google teased, like quickly summarizing a syllabus in Gmail or saving your spot in line for a workout class. Florence Ion, PC Magazine, 18 June 2026 In real life, McConaughey has sometimes teased a run for Texas Governor, though nothing has come of that. Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for tease
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tease
Noun
  • The webtoon’s title is set to be announced Wednesday at an Annecy Mifa market session, From China to Global Animation Synergy with Bilibili, where a teaser will be shown.
    John Hopewell, Variety, 23 June 2026
  • Netflix released a teaser trailer, artwork and first-look images.
    Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 23 June 2026
Noun
  • Someone decides what counts as cultivation and what counts as nuisance, what gets watered and what gets pulled, what belongs in the planned bed and what must be removed before visitors arrive.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 June 2026
  • Many people view heat as an annual summer nuisance but have no reference for differentiating dangerous extreme events.
    Marshall Shepherd, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026
Verb
  • Stickler may or may not have hinted about the end of the relationship in April, joking about an ex-boyfriend.
    Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 24 June 2026
  • In July 2024, Reynolds joked that he and Lively might not be done having kids, telling E!
    Gina Kalsi, PEOPLE, 23 June 2026
Verb
  • The groove passes between them without ever quite resolving, each jolt followed by a pocket of silence that feels almost taunting.
    Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 25 June 2026
  • Neither incidents involved taunting players from the opposing team, and both of those techs have reportedly been rescinded.
    Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2026
Noun
  • Still, the star did not name her harassers.
    Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 22 May 2026
  • Most harassers do not harass others in front of someone else.
    Briana Mascaro, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026
Noun
  • The Warriors don’t need a teenager who needs a map to find the weight room — some long-term project who turns tantalization into annoyance — just add time.
    Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 24 June 2026
  • SpongeBob and his best friend Patrick show care and loyalty to each other, as well as conflict, annoyance, and repair.
    Liz Regalia, Parents, 23 June 2026
Verb
  • Just kidding, but seeing Angela’s team sweep Shamea’s at the Bailey Bowl basketball tournament was almost as satisfying as knowing Charles got to witness his former team’s historic win in person.
    Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 22 June 2026
  • Idaho law mandates that kids age 14 or younger wear a life jacket on the water, according to the city.
    Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 22 June 2026
Noun
  • Red is immediately abducted, cut open in an ambulance, and injected with pain-magnifying drugs by his torturers, while Liz accidentally murders the mysterious man surveilling her next door.
    EW Staff, Entertainment Weekly, 25 June 2026
  • Aaron escapes his torturers, first by rooting himself in the town’s only movie theater open to Black people, and then by lying about his age and enlisting in the Navy at 16.
    Meredith Maran, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Tease.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tease. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.

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