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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
Just the excitement of the brain tease. Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 24 Oct. 2025 In an interview with Empire magazine, the actress gave a light tease of the show’s return while discussing her deep attachment to her character, Cassie. Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 20 Oct. 2025
Verb
When Mitchell first teased the products on Instagram with a glossy editorial photo of a little girl using a pink jelly mask, the response was loud—and overwhelmingly negative. Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 10 Nov. 2025 The main story, however, is the return of the Lucha Brothers, which was teased by Penta himself. Andrew Ravens‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for tease
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tease
Noun
  • The teaser does not capture Carmela’s reply.
    John Hopewell, Variety, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Fans got a glimpse of Jaafar in the role during the November 2025 teaser trailer, which showed the first footage of the young star replicating his uncle's iconic choreography.
    Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • An Orange County judge granted the city of Santa Ana’s request for a preliminary injunction against several businesses on East First Street accused of being public nuisances.
    Mona Darwish, Oc Register, 8 Nov. 2025
  • According to the American Mosquito Control Association, mosquitoes are not only a nuisance but also a public health concern, capable of carrying diseases like West Nile virus.
    Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Doughnuts and coffees in hand, some of them joked about seeing each other look happy for the first time in weeks.
    Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 8 Nov. 2025
  • The director playfully joked not to ask him what Camazotz is, as many views and fans have started theorizing how that name could tie into the show.
    Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • The taunting penalty moved the Cowboys back 15 yards at a crucial juncture of the game.
    Matt Audilet, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
  • The kickers were so poor that Boston College head coach Bill O’Brien could have been flagged for taunting by calling for a prevent defense at his own 31-yard line just before halftime.
    Pete Sampson, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Initially, the Kruegers complained to police, but were told there was nothing the authorities could do unless the harasser tried to harm them physically.
    Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 3 Nov. 2025
  • The documentary tells the true story of a teenage couple relentlessly bullied via text by an anonymous harasser.
    EW.com, EW.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Carry a pack of tissues everywhere in case they are needed because the slightest comments or annoyances could set us off at these times.
    Lisa Stardust, Refinery29, 7 Nov. 2025
  • And that’ll always be the source of great frustration and annoyance for her.
    Kate Aurthur, Variety, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Rates for the winter journey to the North Pole start at approximately $42 for adults (and kids ages 12 and over) and just over $31 for children ages two to 11.
    Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Just kidding - but honestly not sold on him being the best player on a championship caliber team.
    The Athletic NBA Staff, New York Times, 30 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The overwhelming majority of experts dispute that torture actually works as an interrogation technique, arguing that any information that comes out of it is unreliable as people under duress will say anything needed to convince their torturers to stop.
    Ellen Mitchell, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2025
  • It might have been produced, and not merely set, in a torturer’s basement.
    Justin Chang, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Tease.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tease. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.

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