tantalizing

adjective

tan·​ta·​liz·​ing ˈtan-tə-ˌlī-ziŋ 

: possessing a quality that arouses or stimulates desire or interest

also : mockingly or teasingly out of reach

tantalizingly adverb

Examples of tantalizing in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The hotel lies at the bottom of the Colombier area of the island where the grandest houses have been snapped up by the world’s wealthiest people, trying to get tantalizing peeks of them through the palms is a fun game. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Jan. 2026

Unfortunately, at least as depicted in Part 1, Sophie and Benedict’s romance lacks the tantalizing heat and erotic chemistry of the show’s previous central couples. —Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 29 Jan. 2026

Vagueposting is a bit like a tantalizing YouTube thumbnail, promising jaw-dropping, mind-blowing content just waiting to be unlocked with a click. —Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026

Now, Fincke has revealed a tantalizing clue about what went down during the first medical evacuation in the space station’s 25 years of continuous occupation. —Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 22 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

from present participle of tantalize

First Known Use

circa 1683, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for tantalizing

• advertising
• amortizing
• analyzing
• anodizing
• appetizing
• atomizing
• authorising
• authorizing
• carbonizing
• carburizing
• catalyzing
• centralising