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

But the most tantalizing capability the new barcodes can unlock is the ability to radically change the way America performs food safety. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026

Burlington Central’s Tobi Oduwa entered high school as a raw prospect with tantalizing physical abilities. — Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026

Future James Bond collaborations between the brands remain a tantalizing possibility. — Carol Besler, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026

That even raises the tantalizing possibility of exporting some back to Europe in bright yellow paint and Skoda badges—Felicia Fun EV, anyone? — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 7 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

from present participle of tantalize

First Known Use

circa 1683, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for tantalizing

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