as in intrigues
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 tantalizes
The menu changes bimonthly, but always tantalizes with dishes like Mini Truffled Brioche Sandwich and Braised Provencal Duck Leg.
—
Sarah Miller, Midwest Living, 29 Apr. 2026
But 36–23 still taunts and tantalizes us, a magical missing score that reminds every Scorigami devotee that what’s possible isn’t preordained.
—Josh Levin, The Atlantic, 5 Dec. 2025
Set in his native Scotland and lovingly photographed, the film tantalizes even without a terribly original story.
—Stephen Farber, HollywoodReporter, 15 Sep. 2025
Sarah Miller, Midwest Living, 29 Apr. 2026
But 36–23 still taunts and tantalizes us, a magical missing score that reminds every Scorigami devotee that what’s possible isn’t preordained.
—Josh Levin, The Atlantic, 5 Dec. 2025
Set in his native Scotland and lovingly photographed, the film tantalizes even without a terribly original story.
—Stephen Farber, HollywoodReporter, 15 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tantalizes
Verb
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What about these communities intrigues you and why set the story in that location?—
Maira Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
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The menu has a lot of delicious choices, but the one that intrigues my girlfriend is their overnight oat bowl.—
C.W. Cameron,
AJC.com,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
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That’s something that excites me about about genre.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
27 Apr. 2026
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Strong relationships also tend to go hand-in-hand with finding work that genuinely excites you—something Jassy has emphasized in his own career advice.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Being on the very limit — that’s what thrills him.—
Luke Smith,
New York Times,
1 Apr. 2026
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Abigail is the one who clearly thrills to performance; Shaun consistently orbits her sun, giving the impression of the bearded and bespectacled multi-instrumentalist who’d be happy jamming on the sidelines.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
17 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tantalizes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tantalizes. Accessed 5 May. 2026.
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