tantalizing

adjective

Definition of tantalizing

: possessing a quality that arouses or stimulates desire or interest; also : mockingly or teasingly out of reach

tantalizingly

adverb

Recent Examples of tantalizing from the Web

As Michell establishes with tantalizing concision in the pre-title sequence, Ambrose's letters home had taken a couple of drastic turns in recent months, from enchantment to mistrust to outright terror.

— sheri linden, The Hollywood Reporter, "'My Cousin Rachel': Film Review", 2 June 2017
There's also the fact that any similar benefits in humans are only hypothetical at this point, but that doesn't make the idea any less tantalizing to some, according to media reports.

— evann gastaldo, Fox News, "Startup buys young blood, injects it into older people", 2 June 2017
Historically, the idea of extracting DNA from an Egyptian mummy has been a bit like trying to suck dinosaur DNA out an insect trapped in amber: a tantalizing prospect, but still more myth than science.

— ben panko, Smithsonian, "Ancient Mummies Finally Give Up Their Genetic Secrets", 1 June 2017
Cat had succumbed to the tantalizing hobby of button collecting.

— lance winter, star-telegram, "Right on the button: Mansfield couple opens up about collection", 30 May 2017
The release of the 64-team NCAA tournament field Monday revealed the tantalizing potential of Super Regional matchup between LSU and the Mississippi State team coached by former LSU hitting coach Andy Cannizaro.

— christopher dabe, NOLA.com, "LSU won't dare look ahead to the postseason matchup everybody wants to talk about", 29 May 2017
Those who braved the wind and the rain Thursday at Citi Field witnessed a tantalizing introduction.

— dennis lin, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Padres' Dinelson Lamet tantalizes in major league debut, victory over Mets", 25 May 2017
Time and history march on, but Abe Zapruder’s home movie endures, a tantalizing enigma.

— edward kosner, WSJ, "Twenty-Six Seconds That Changed the World", 12 Nov. 2016
To be clear: there’s no indication whatever that Marriott pegged its promo to Tuesday’s election, and Marriott Rewards members get regular tantalizing offers from around the globe.

— shanna jackson, AJC.com, "Two days after Trump’s election, Marriott touts Canada getaways", 10 Nov. 2016

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

Circa 1683