tease

tease

verb

Definition of TEASE

1

to make fun of in a good-natured way <likes to tease her twin brother about his seemingly endless string of girlfriends>

Synonyms chaff, jive, joke, josh, kid, rally, razz, rib, ride, roast

Related Words banter; fool, fun, string along; jest, quip, wisecrack; gag, jape, jolly, yuk (or yuck) [slang]

Phrases goof on [slang], take the mickey out of [British]

2

to attack repeatedly with mean put-downs or insults <grew up being teased because his parents were hog farmers>

Synonyms bait, hassle, haze, heckle, needle, ride, taunt

Related Words deride, gibe (or jibe), jeer, mock, ridicule; annoy, bother, bug, burn (up), chafe, fret, frost, gall, get, gnaw (at), grate, gripe, hack (off), hagride, irk, irritate, itch, nag, nark [British], nettle, peeve, pester, pique, put out, rasp, rile, ruffle, spite, trouble, vex; aggravate, exasperate, goad, test, try; aggrieve, agitate, bedevil, beleaguer, discomfort, disturb, perturb; badger, dog, hound; browbeat, bully, hector; harass, harry, persecute, plague, terrorize, torment, torture

Phrases make game of, pick on