tease

1 of 2

verb

ˈtēz 

teased; teasing

transitive verb

1

a

: to make fun of : kid

b

: to disturb or annoy by persistent irritating or provoking especially in a petty or mischievous way

c

: to annoy with petty persistent requests : pester

also : to obtain by repeated coaxing

d

: to persuade to acquiesce especially by persistent small efforts : coax

e

: to manipulate or influence as if by teasing

2

: to comb (hair) by taking hold of a strand and pushing the short hairs toward the scalp with the comb

3

: to tantalize especially by arousing desire or curiosity often without intending to satisfy it

4

a

: to disentangle and lay parallel by combing or carding

tease wool

b

: teasel

5

: to tear in pieces

especially : to shred (a tissue or specimen) for microscopic examination

teasingly

ˈtē-ziŋ-lē 

adverb

tease

2 of 2

noun

1

: the act of teasing : the state of being teased

2

: one that teases

Synonyms of tease

Verb

• joke
• kid

Noun

• teaser
• harasser
• torturer
• tormentor
• attacker

Choose the Right Synonym for tease

worry, annoy, harass, harry, plague, pester, tease mean to disturb or irritate by persistent acts.

worry implies an incessant goading or attacking that drives one to desperation.

pursued a policy of worrying the enemy

annoy implies disturbing one's composure or peace of mind by intrusion, interference, or petty attacks.

you're doing that just to annoy me

harass implies petty persecutions or burdensome demands that exhaust one's nervous or mental power.

harassed on all sides by creditors

harry may imply heavy oppression or maltreatment.

the strikers had been harried by thugs

plague implies a painful and persistent affliction.

plagued all her life by poverty

pester stresses the repetition of petty attacks.

constantly pestered with trivial complaints

tease suggests an attempt to break down one's resistance or rouse to wrath.

children teased the dog

Examples of tease in a Sentence

Verb

He and his wife enjoy teasing each other about their different tastes in music.

The other children teased her because she was wearing braces.

He was always teased by his brother about being short.

Oh, don't get so angry. I was just teasing!

The boy's mother told him to stop teasing the dog.

Noun

a pretty girl who has the reputation of being a bit of a tease

The lower rate is just a tease to attract new customers.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Alongside the episode, audiences got a chance to watch the trailer for Season 15, which teases storylines of Bobby (Pamela Adlon) branching out at his restaurant job and starting a relationship with Connie (Lauren Tom), while Peggy (Kathy Najimy) gets really competitive in a new hobby. — Rafael Motamayor, Variety, 24 June 2026

Croatia found its swagger in the second half, though, when substitute Ante Budimir guided home a teasing cross from Josip Stanisic in the 53rd minute after a clever backheel from Marco Pasalic set him on his way down the right wing. — Reuters, NBC news, 24 June 2026

Noun

They are all stuffed into selections from the adults-only section of a Spirit Halloween store and made to perform amateur strip teases for their fellow Islanders — all strapped to heart-rate monitors — to see who can raise whose heart rate the most. — Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 22 June 2026

In fact, most parents have witnessed their child pick on, tease, or even be mean to another kid at least once. — Sherri Gordon, Parents, 22 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English tesen, from Old English tǣsan; akin to Old High German zeisan to tease

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4a

Noun

1680, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing tease

• tease out

Rhymes for tease

• bees
• bes
• breeze
• cheese
• crees
• crise
• deas
• dees
• ease
• fees
• fleas
• flees

Kids Definition

tease

1 of 2 verb

ˈtēz 

teased; teasing

1

: to untangle and lay parallel by combing or carding

tease wool

2

a

: to annoy continually : pester, torment

b

: tantalize

c

: to make fun of

teaser noun

teasingly

ˈtē-ziŋ-lē 

adverb

tease

2 of 2 noun

1

a

: the act of teasing

b

: the state of being teased

2

: one that teases

Medical Definition

tease

transitive verb

ˈtēz 

teased; teasing

: to tear in pieces

especially : to shred (a tissue or specimen) for microscopic examination