1
as in tormenters
a person who causes repeated emotional pain, distress, or annoyance to another
she can be a very cruel tease when she happens upon an unpopular girl who is easily hurt
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in annoyers
one who is obnoxiously annoying
my youngest brother is a complete tease, following me around everywhere and aping my every move
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in jokes
to make fun of in a good-natured way
likes to tease her twin brother about his seemingly endless string of girlfriends
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in taunts
to attack repeatedly with mean put-downs or insults
grew up being teased because his parents were hog farmers
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 teases
Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Sep. 2025
The trailer for the film teases that Perfidia was apprehended by law enforcement prior to the start of the movie's events, leaving Bob and Willa to go on the run and seek refuge with an ally, portrayed by Benicio del Toro.
—Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
Typically said when someone copies a trend, latches onto a friend's obsession, or just teases in a playful way.
—Annabelle Canela, Parents, 5 Sep. 2025
The teases of matches with Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes had fans excited for another in-ring run.
—Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025
Portman, Will Ferrell and America Ferrera are among Arco's English-language version's cast, helping bring to life jaw-dropping visuals (as a trailer teases).
—Jack Smart, People.com, 31 Aug. 2025
That connection might just go beyond their professional similarities, Stoudt teases.
—EW.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Regardless of when Manning enters the NFL, the early teases of his talent suggest he is headed for big things.
—Dane Brugler, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025
Nick Romano, EW.com, 11 Sep. 2025
The video teases the emotional reunion between Noah and Nick after their devastating breakup, questioning whether the couple can survive their final race together after their fast-burning love affair reached a breaking point and screeched to a sudden halt.
—Veronica Villafañe, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Rosenfield, also the author of books like 2021’s No One Will Miss Her, teases that the novel is perfect for thriller fans craving something more.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
Previously released on YouTube, the trailer features moments from the first two seasons and teases new footage from the original episode.
—Giana Levy, Variety, 5 Sep. 2025
The trailer also teases the addition of a few new cast members, including Corinna Brown (Heartstopper), Fernando Cattori (With You in the Future, Untamed Royals), Isaline Prevost Radeff (Ceux Qui Travaillent, Haute Mer), and Jahz Armando (Gangs of London) in recurring roles.
—Jodi Guglielmi, Rolling Stone, 29 Aug. 2025
Knowing how many questions need to be answered, Sylvia teases what’s in store, as well as the Taylor Swift The Life of a Showgirl connection to the new season, and the guest star lineup that will floor fans.
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 19 Aug. 2025
Trump teases a change in federal drug policy.
—Rebecca Morin, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2025
And, in number after number, the show teases us with the answer.
—Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 21 Dec. 2024
Noun
Chu teases of the second movie's new numbers.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Sep. 2025
The trailer for the film teases that Perfidia was apprehended by law enforcement prior to the start of the movie's events, leaving Bob and Willa to go on the run and seek refuge with an ally, portrayed by Benicio del Toro.
—Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
Typically said when someone copies a trend, latches onto a friend's obsession, or just teases in a playful way.
—Annabelle Canela, Parents, 5 Sep. 2025
The teases of matches with Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes had fans excited for another in-ring run.
—Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025
Portman, Will Ferrell and America Ferrera are among Arco's English-language version's cast, helping bring to life jaw-dropping visuals (as a trailer teases).
—Jack Smart, People.com, 31 Aug. 2025
That connection might just go beyond their professional similarities, Stoudt teases.
—EW.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Regardless of when Manning enters the NFL, the early teases of his talent suggest he is headed for big things.
—Dane Brugler, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025
Verb
After bulking up to play a professional footballer in horror movie Him (in theaters next week), Wayans teases his return for Scary Movie 6, the sequel to the horror-parody franchise.
—Nick Romano, EW.com, 11 Sep. 2025
The video teases the emotional reunion between Noah and Nick after their devastating breakup, questioning whether the couple can survive their final race together after their fast-burning love affair reached a breaking point and screeched to a sudden halt.
—Veronica Villafañe, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Rosenfield, also the author of books like 2021’s No One Will Miss Her, teases that the novel is perfect for thriller fans craving something more.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
Previously released on YouTube, the trailer features moments from the first two seasons and teases new footage from the original episode.
—Giana Levy, Variety, 5 Sep. 2025
The trailer also teases the addition of a few new cast members, including Corinna Brown (Heartstopper), Fernando Cattori (With You in the Future, Untamed Royals), Isaline Prevost Radeff (Ceux Qui Travaillent, Haute Mer), and Jahz Armando (Gangs of London) in recurring roles.
—Jodi Guglielmi, Rolling Stone, 29 Aug. 2025
Knowing how many questions need to be answered, Sylvia teases what’s in store, as well as the Taylor Swift The Life of a Showgirl connection to the new season, and the guest star lineup that will floor fans.
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 19 Aug. 2025
Trump teases a change in federal drug policy.
—Rebecca Morin, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2025
And, in number after number, the show teases us with the answer.
—Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 21 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for teases
Verb
-
Stephen Colbert jokes about presidential run after cancellation.—
Rebecca Morin,
USA Today,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Hughes jokes that Excel might be his biggest competitor, because many local authorities still rely on elaborate spreadsheets built on institutional knowledge and heuristics.—
Felicia Jackson,
Forbes.com,
26 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Garraty is forced to slap himself across the face to stay awake as Barkovitch taunts him.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Sep. 2025
-
In the present day, Ellen watches as MacKinny taunts Colum in front of a crowd of onlookers and rushes to stand by his side.—
Lincee Ray Published,
EW.com,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Some of the best exercises for a stronger core include crunches, teasers, planks, and body-weight squats.—
Health Editorial Team,
Health,
28 Aug. 2025
-
That piece of information will definitely capture the attention of Swifties, as many of them were quick to speculate that Swift had snuck in teasers about her future ventures — such as potentially headlining Super Bowl 2026, for instance — into the episode.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
27 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Decades ago, marshes were considered nuisances, soggy flats to be drained, dried, and made waterproof with liberal coatings of asphalt.—
Justin Davidson,
Curbed,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
There’s also never really a good explanation for why the population of campers has dwindled, beyond Charlie Brown telling Sally that kids her age just want to watch TV instead of heading outdoors for fun.—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
11 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
This is why Dijon’s language works best as sound, not narrative—his rangy, raspy voice seethes and triumphs, mocks and threatens; there’s no world in which his polygonal perspective can be discerned from a lyric sheet.—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
New Yorker,
16 Aug. 2025
-
After being told that Dawn is dead, Gaal mocks Demerzel for pretending to grieve, which angers the robot.—
Rafael Motamayor,
Vulture,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
One of my long-standing annoyances with macOS was the lack of control over the menu bar.—
Edward Mendelson,
PC Magazine,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Minor annoyances suddenly widen into a chasm neither can cross.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
29 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
For decades, generals, coup-plotters, and torturers walked free under the shield of amnesty laws passed after the country’s 21-year dictatorship.—
Julia Vargas Jones,
CNN Money,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Each regime, from the Pahlavi dynasty to the Islamic Republic, claimed to uphold human rights and castigated its predecessors as torturers, only to ratchet up the incarceration of political opponents.—
Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Teases.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/teases. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share