as in to intrigue
to cause (someone) to feel interest or excitement about something that is very attractive, appealing, etc.
She was tantalized by the possibility of earning a lot of money quickly.
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Recent Examples of tantalize
The prospect of adding Tatum to one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference should be tantalizing for the Celtics.
—
Jay King, New York Times, 10 Feb. 2026
This question has tantalized and taunted Bulls fans for years — and this trade deadline is no different.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
Along with Bach’s Art of Fugue, the Mozart Requiem, symphonies by Schubert, Mahler and Elgar, and Puccini’s Turandot and Berg’s Lulu, Bruckner’s Ninth Symphony is one of music history’s tantalizing torsos.
—Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News, 16 Jan. 2026
The filmmaker breaks down that tantalizing final sequence.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tantalize
Jay King, New York Times, 10 Feb. 2026
This question has tantalized and taunted Bulls fans for years — and this trade deadline is no different.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
Along with Bach’s Art of Fugue, the Mozart Requiem, symphonies by Schubert, Mahler and Elgar, and Puccini’s Turandot and Berg’s Lulu, Bruckner’s Ninth Symphony is one of music history’s tantalizing torsos.
—Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News, 16 Jan. 2026
The filmmaker breaks down that tantalizing final sequence.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tantalize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tantalize
Verb
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Brooklyn signed former Alabama forward Grant Nelson to a 10-day contract Friday, taking a flyer on an undrafted prospect with size, a modern skill set and enough versatility to intrigue a team that’s leaned hard into youth.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
27 Feb. 2026
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Those intrigued by the MOMA/Met Opera crossover may be interested in the Met Museum’s annual Costume Institute exhibition.—
Inkoo Kang,
New Yorker,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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When excited by light, these nanoscale structures release photons as electrons fall back to lower-energy states.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Mar. 2026
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What excites him most about Sunday was experiencing the city in a new way.—
Michelle Edgar,
Daily News,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Department of Homeland Security is not thrilled with the idea.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
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In a world full of portal transfers and roster instability, Georgia coach Mike White is thrilled to have Blue Cain.—
Olivia Sayer,
AJC.com,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tantalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tantalize. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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