tease 1 of 2

tease

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb tease contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of tease are annoy, harass, harry, pester, plague, and worry. While all these words mean "to disturb or irritate by persistent acts," tease suggests an attempt to break down one's resistance or rouse to wrath.

children teased the dog

In what contexts can annoy take the place of tease?

While in some cases nearly identical to tease, annoy implies disturbing one's composure or peace of mind by intrusion, interference, or petty attacks.

you're doing that just to annoy me

When would harass be a good substitute for tease?

In some situations, the words harass and tease are roughly equivalent. However, harass implies petty persecutions or burdensome demands that exhaust one's nervous or mental power.

harassed on all sides by creditors

When can harry be used instead of tease?

Although the words harry and tease have much in common, harry may imply heavy oppression or maltreatment.

the strikers had been harried by thugs

Where would pester be a reasonable alternative to tease?

The synonyms pester and tease are sometimes interchangeable, but pester stresses the repetition of petty attacks.

constantly pestered with trivial complaints

When might plague be a better fit than tease?

The words plague and tease can be used in similar contexts, but plague implies a painful and persistent affliction.

plagued all her life by poverty

When is it sensible to use worry instead of tease?

The words worry and tease are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, worry implies an incessant goading or attacking that drives one to desperation.

pursued a policy of worrying the enemy

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of tease
Noun
After a three-year NBA apprenticeship as a minus-impact tease with the theoretical, hazy outlines of intrigue because of his height and length, Thor, 22, looked a bit more like an actual basketball player for the Cavs and Wizards last season. John Hollinger, New York Times, 20 June 2025 Below, Lampert unpacks the heaviness of season three, choosing to show different sides of Georgia and Ginny, the decision to ultimately not convict Georgia for murder and teases season four (as well as her hopes for a fifth season). Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 6 June 2025
Verb
As MacRumors notes, that's a big 180 from WWDC 2022, when Apple first teased CarPlay Ultra and displayed the logos of 14 car makers. Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 26 June 2025 Ovens said Kevin will sometimes tease Lucie for fun, but the dog is generally good at respecting her space. Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for tease
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tease
Noun
  • Neighbors call in concerned about true nuisances that could affect the enjoyment of their private property.
    Andrew Wimer, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
  • Angry residents would sabotage the robotaxis with the help of traffic cones, while the city’s fire department chief herself would regularly malign them as a dangerous nuisance.
    Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 22 June 2025
Verb
  • Rocky joked, referencing the Hollywood family of 10 kids.
    Vivian Kwarm, New York Daily News, 30 June 2025
  • In fact, this year at the Preakness Alibi Breakfast, an annual affair at Pimlico where trainers, owners and others tell stories and trade barbs about their career and horses, Lukas and Baffert hijacked the event with witty repartee and joking much to the delight of those in attendance.
    John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2025
Verb
  • Rakeem Nunez-Roches taunted Hudson from the defensive sideline, and Hudson made the yapping sign with his hand back at him.
    Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 5 June 2025
  • The worse-than-blue has been hanging around for weeks, taunting me because tomorrow is my birthday.
    Susan Choi, Literary Hub, 5 June 2025
Noun
  • On Tuesday the streamer released a teaser of the film in which voiceovers of stars Emily Bader and Tom Blyth are overheard with a beach backdrop.
    Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 1 July 2025
  • The film has already generated significant buzz with its teaser and hit songs.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 30 June 2025
Noun
  • Some of those annoyances include busier streets, increased housing prices and tourist traffic.
    Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 18 June 2025
  • But investors’ annoyance over his answers pointed to Walgreens’ much deeper problems.
    Phil Wahba, Fortune, 17 June 2025
Verb
  • There may be a welcome change in the global balance of power, as China and Russia recognize that the United States is not kidding.
    Wesley Alexander Hill, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • But internally, no one is kidding themselves or trying to sugarcoat the results.
    Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 24 June 2025
Noun
  • After a few years of decreasing infection, the pests rarely trouble citrus trees.
    Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 June 2025
  • Wasps are beneficial as pollinators and pest controls, but a nest near your house can cause problems.
    Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 20 June 2025
Noun
  • No other cast is listed, but the show’s 2014 iteration was loaded with guest stars, including Seth Rogen (as himself, playing Valerie’s former tormentor, Paulie G.) and Malin Åkerman, appearing as her character from Season 1.
    Kate Aurthur, Variety, 27 June 2025
  • And in what has to be the epitome of one-stop-shopping narrative convenience, these loan sharks also own the MMA dojo where Fong’s tormentor, Conor Day (Aramis Knight), practices.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 29 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Tease.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tease. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.

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