tantalize

verb tan·ta·lize \ ˈtan-tə-ˌlīz \

|Updated on: 5 Aug 2018

Examples: tantalize in a Sentence

Editor's Note: Did You Know?

Definition of tantalize

tantalized; tantalizing

transitive verb

: to tease or torment by or as if by presenting something desirable to the view but continually keeping it out of reach

intransitive verb

: to cause one to be tantalized

—

tantalizer

noun

See tantalize defined for English-language learners

See tantalize defined for kids

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Examples of tantalize in a Sentence

She was tantalized by the possibility of earning a lot of money quickly.

Recent Examples of tantalize from the Web

Hezonja tantalized fans with some promising performances, including a career-high 28-point game on Dec. 17 in Detroit.

— josh robbins, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Magic Mailbag: Will Orlando bring back Mario Hezonja?," 30 June 2018
By doing so, Elliott tantalized Athena investors — and set a solid floor for other would-be buyers to beat.

— jon chesto, BostonGlobe.com, "Athenahealth shakeup underscores hedge funds’ power," 6 June 2018
But some are tantalized by the power and profit that’s inherent in the whole machine that gets created by the celebrity of a chef.

— casey quackenbush / hong kong, Time, "'We're Not Educated.' The Untold Story of Lung King Heen, the World's First Michelin Three-Star Chinese Restaurant," 12 July 2018
Astronomers have long been tantalized by the prospect of using neutrinos, which move at almost the speed of light and rarely interact with other matter, to learn about violent cosmic events.

— daniel clery, Science | AAAS, "Ghostly particle caught in polar ice ushers in new way to look at the universe," 12 July 2018
With visitors tantalized about the scent advertised to be the equivalent of rotting flesh, Garden officials chose this time to place Alice outdoors, instead of in a greenhouse where previous titan arums have been displayed.

— daniel i. dorfman, chicagotribune.com, "Corpse flower makes repeat performance — this time outdoors — at Chicago Botanic Garden," 3 July 2018
But he has been tantalized by the idea of solving the North Korea problem since long before that.

— mark landler, The Seattle Times, "Trump intrigued with solving threat from North Korea," 11 June 2018
But he has been tantalized by the idea of solving the North Korea problem since long before that.

— mark landler, New York Times, "Meeting With Kim Tests Trump’s Dealmaking Swagger," 9 June 2018
Then, privately write out scenarios that have tantalized you and place them in a box.

— brendan tapley, Woman's Day, "10 Things Men Wish Women Knew About Sex," 25 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tantalize.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

Pity poor King Tantalus of Phrygia. The mythic monarch offended the ancient Greek gods. As punishment, he was plunged up to his chin in water in Hades, where he had to stand beneath overhanging boughs of a tree heavily laden with ripe, juicy fruit. But though he was always hungry and thirsty, Tantalus could neither drink the water nor eat the fruit. Anytime he reached for them, they would retreat from him. Our word tantalize is taken from the name of the eternally tormented king.

Origin and Etymology of tantalize

Tantalus

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1597

in the meaning defined at transitive sense

See Words from the same year

TANTALIZE Defined for English Language Learners

tantalize

verb

Definition of tantalize for English Language Learners

: to cause (someone) to feel interest or excitement about something that is very attractive, appealing, etc.

TANTALIZE Defined for Kids

tantalize

verb tan·ta·lize \ ˈtan-tə-ˌlīz \

Definition of tantalize for Students

tantalized; tantalizing

: to tease or excite by or as if by showing, mentioning, or offering something desirable but keeping it out of reach

Annemarie always tried … to build up the suspense and tantalize her sister.
—Lois Lowry, Number the Stars

History for tantalize

There was once, so Greek mythology tells us, a king named Tantalus who was not a good man. He murdered his own son and served him as food to the gods. For this the king was punished by being made to stand underneath a fruit tree in water up to his chin. If he bent his head to drink, the water got lower and he could not reach it. If he lifted his head to bite into a fruit, the bough went higher and he could not reach it. He was made miserable by food and drink kept just out of reach. The word tantalize comes from the name of this mythical king.

Learn More about tantalize

See words that rhyme with tantalize Spanish Central: Translation of tantalize Nglish: Translation of tantalize for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of tantalize for Arabic speakers

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BROWSE DICTIONARY

tantalite

tantalization

tantalize

tantalizing

tantalum

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