as in harassment
the act of making unwelcome intrusions upon another
stop that teasing before you make the baby cry
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in joking
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
2
as in taunting
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
1
as in kidding
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 mocking
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 teasing
Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 5 May 2026
This was 1967, back when teachers said teasing should be ignored.
—Literary Hub, 3 Apr. 2026
His teasing took on a sharper edge.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Mar. 2026
Each rendezvous, complete with soap opera–worthy drama—hoarding, cheeky teasing, Alex Honnold–worthy climbing, slow-mo acrobatics, and aggression that made gathered onlookers gasp—further cemented our similarities as species.
—Kathryn Romeyn, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Mar. 2026
The one teasing bit of historical intrigue comes when Le Bail’s lawyer (Elijah Wood) insists that the rules state each clan must attack Grace and Faith using weapons from the era in which their ancestors made their satanic pact.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026
Overall, Mau took his time letting mixes build, extending a teasing, slow burn style that exemplified restraint and good taste, and always paid off when the beat dropped.
—Katie Bain, Billboard, 16 Mar. 2026
Cawood introduced Gavitt — a snippet of Cawood’s remarks were carried on the telecast, subjecting him to considerable teasing — who spoke live on national television at the front of a Hyatt ballroom full of people.
—Bill Hancock, Kansas City Star, 12 Mar. 2026
Most of the threat to Iceland came from wingers Lauren James on the left and Lauren Hemp on the right, who cut inside delivering teasing crosses.
—Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2026
Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 12 June 2026
For June, in Miami, that’s a teasing treat.
—Howard Cohen
june 1, Miami Herald, 1 June 2026
Or when Reggie purposefully annoys Arthur by having his son, Carmelo (Jalyn Hall), practice with his a cappella group in Arthur’s editing suite, a move that demonstrates the increasingly teasing affection between Arthur and Reggie.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 14 Apr. 2026
Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2026
As Akanji whipped in a teasing delivery from the right, Embolo headed the ball down.
—Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 13 June 2026
In the months that followed, G-Dragon had been teasing the tour during his Übermensch solo tour run, per Rolling Stone, but specific dates and venues had not been confirmed until today's announcement.
—Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
This supernovela, a term used to describe high-budget soapy dramas, looks ultra-addictive and is already teasing a second season.
—K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 12 June 2026
Notably, Disclosure Day didn't feature end-credits sequence teasing more to come.
—Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 12 June 2026
After months of teasing Pocket Bronze and Highlight Milk across our Instagram and TikTok feeds, the wait is finally over.
—Shani Cohen, Glamour, 10 June 2026
Organizers are teasing a special announcement during opening day festivities.
—Chelsea Jones, CBS News, 10 June 2026
Could Swift have been teasing her Toy Story collab two months ago?
—Meg Walters, InStyle, 10 June 2026
Noun
Moss-Bachrach runs through a lot of emotions countering Bernthal here, cycling Richie through jokey acceptance of Mikey’s razzing, some light teasing of his own, and glimpses of uncertainty.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 5 May 2026
This was 1967, back when teachers said teasing should be ignored.
—Literary Hub, 3 Apr. 2026
His teasing took on a sharper edge.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Mar. 2026
Each rendezvous, complete with soap opera–worthy drama—hoarding, cheeky teasing, Alex Honnold–worthy climbing, slow-mo acrobatics, and aggression that made gathered onlookers gasp—further cemented our similarities as species.
—Kathryn Romeyn, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Mar. 2026
The one teasing bit of historical intrigue comes when Le Bail’s lawyer (Elijah Wood) insists that the rules state each clan must attack Grace and Faith using weapons from the era in which their ancestors made their satanic pact.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026
Overall, Mau took his time letting mixes build, extending a teasing, slow burn style that exemplified restraint and good taste, and always paid off when the beat dropped.
—Katie Bain, Billboard, 16 Mar. 2026
Cawood introduced Gavitt — a snippet of Cawood’s remarks were carried on the telecast, subjecting him to considerable teasing — who spoke live on national television at the front of a Hyatt ballroom full of people.
—Bill Hancock, Kansas City Star, 12 Mar. 2026
Most of the threat to Iceland came from wingers Lauren James on the left and Lauren Hemp on the right, who cut inside delivering teasing crosses.
—Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
The tiny humans sometimes linger in the blank space of your mind, staring back at you in a teasing way.
—Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 12 June 2026
For June, in Miami, that’s a teasing treat.
—Howard Cohen
june 1, Miami Herald, 1 June 2026
Or when Reggie purposefully annoys Arthur by having his son, Carmelo (Jalyn Hall), practice with his a cappella group in Arthur’s editing suite, a move that demonstrates the increasingly teasing affection between Arthur and Reggie.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 14 Apr. 2026
Verb
Two children at a Redlands elementary school faced racial harassment, discrimination and teasing for months, resulting in them being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, their mother alleged in a lawsuit filed against the school district.
—Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2026
As Akanji whipped in a teasing delivery from the right, Embolo headed the ball down.
—Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 13 June 2026
In the months that followed, G-Dragon had been teasing the tour during his Übermensch solo tour run, per Rolling Stone, but specific dates and venues had not been confirmed until today's announcement.
—Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
This supernovela, a term used to describe high-budget soapy dramas, looks ultra-addictive and is already teasing a second season.
—K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 12 June 2026
Notably, Disclosure Day didn't feature end-credits sequence teasing more to come.
—Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 12 June 2026
After months of teasing Pocket Bronze and Highlight Milk across our Instagram and TikTok feeds, the wait is finally over.
—Shani Cohen, Glamour, 10 June 2026
Organizers are teasing a special announcement during opening day festivities.
—Chelsea Jones, CBS News, 10 June 2026
Could Swift have been teasing her Toy Story collab two months ago?
—Meg Walters, InStyle, 10 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for teasing
Noun
-
Two children at a Redlands elementary school faced racial harassment, discrimination and teasing for months, resulting in them being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, their mother alleged in a lawsuit filed against the school district.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
16 June 2026
-
The Big 12 cites cases where government threats of retaliation, including prosecution and legal harassment, constitute an infringement of the freedom of association.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
15 June 2026
Adjective
-
Sports — even those played universally — are, at their soaring best, inherently frivolous.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
10 June 2026
-
Smith has also raised concerns about those complaints the commission never sees because internal affairs categorizes them as informal or frivolous.—
Kelly Davis,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 June 2026
Adjective
-
In the fifth and final season of The Boys, creator-showrunner Eric Kripke and his writers’ room had their work cut out for them, with a complex cast of characters’ arcs to wrap up, from the heartbreaking to the adrenaline-inducing and absurdly hilarious.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
11 June 2026
-
Some of the prices are shiver-inducing, but then this is Mayfair, and The Twenty Two is offering something different—something sexier and more fun, which might just be a marker point for the area’s future.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 May 2026
Verb
-
Last year, a seventeen-year-old boy in New Jersey allegedly drove his car into two teen-age girls, killing them both, after joking on a live stream about women getting raped by Tate.—
Heidi Blake,
New Yorker,
8 June 2026
-
Burke wasn’t joking, and quickly whisked Shimada up into a whirlwind of preparation on trying to sell Boise to the visiting entourage that included Japanese FA Director Naoki Tsumura.—
Shaun Goodwin
June 8,
Idaho Statesman,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
Some of the people in that group began taunting and jeering at the dancing men, some of whom were shirtless and wearing bathing suits.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
9 June 2026
-
Then Tate started openly taunting his accusers.—
Heidi Blake,
New Yorker,
8 June 2026
Adjective
-
The stand-up comic and former cohost of The View has appeared on Broadway four times, starting with a Grease revival in 1994, followed by Seussical in 2001, Taboo in 2003 and Fiddler on the Roof in 2004.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
15 June 2026
-
Helberg had been a comic actor for years before scoring a part on The Big Bang Theory, notably for his season-long run on MadTV in 2002.—
Grace Gavilanes,
PEOPLE,
15 June 2026
Adjective
-
Watching what Richards has gone through the last two weeks to get himself into this position was inspiring, his teammates said.—
Kevin Baxter,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
-
Talking about death can be educational, empowering and inspiring.—
Ut Community Press,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
The connection to nature at Vista Celestial is truly profound, with wildlife waiting for you at the door—I'm not kidding, at one point, a capuchin monkey walked onto our patio to say hello.—
Christina Perrier,
InStyle,
8 June 2026
-
And even while kidding, Kupp couldn’t help but say out loud what many Rams followers are thinking.—
Steve Henson,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Teasing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/teasing. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
