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

Jacobian varieties are interesting in their own right, and the formula offers a tantalizing path for studying them as well. —Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 24 Feb. 2026

When many publications let down their paywall at the tantalizing prospect of chasing massive audiences online through social platforms, The Economist remained skeptical, choosing a model that emphasized subscription and reader revenue over advertising. —Max Tani, semafor.com, 23 Feb. 2026

However, Texas State's 8-6 win over Gonzaga offered a tantalizing preview of what Pac-12 baseball might look like. —Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 21 Feb. 2026

This season’s follow-up was just as tantalizing, with the caveat of it being made for winter weather. —José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 19 Feb. 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