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.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Recent Examples of teasing
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
The video prompted some unexpected playground-level teasing and a surge in Big Arch interest.
—Ramon Padilla, USA Today, 4 Mar. 2026
Alana Wise, NPR, 6 Apr. 2026
After teasing Confessions' forthcoming sequel, Madonna has delivered the next best thing.
—Tiffany Kelly, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Apr. 2026
The news arrives after months of Rodrigo teasing new music, most recently a cryptic hotline message that alluded to this year’s pink moon, which occurred on April 2.
—Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 2 Apr. 2026
Ford Racing factory driver Frédéric Vervisch laid the lap down yesterday, but waited until today—April 2nd—to share the story, lest anybody wonder whether this was a genuine effort, rather than some attempt at an April Fool’s gag teasing a forthcoming GT revival.
—Byron Hurd, The Drive, 2 Apr. 2026
Rodrigo and her team have been teasing the album since winter.
—Katie Simons, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026
As part of Xbox’s 25th anniversary celebration, the event will also feature FanFest, which looks back on 25 years of Xbox history while teasing what’s next for the platform.
—Kennedy French, Variety, 31 Mar. 2026
Cornfield draws out those stories like a raconteur teasing information between sips of bourbon.
—Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 31 Mar. 2026
The queen had a wry sense of humor and enjoyed Angela’s wit and her habit of playfully teasing other courtiers.
—Katie Nicholl, Vanity Fair, 30 Mar. 2026
Noun
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
The video prompted some unexpected playground-level teasing and a surge in Big Arch interest.
—Ramon Padilla, USA Today, 4 Mar. 2026
Verb
After teasing the news stories of the day - Iran, the Artemis II lunar flyby, March Madness and more - Guthrie briefly acknowledged her homecoming.
—Alana Wise, NPR, 6 Apr. 2026
After teasing Confessions' forthcoming sequel, Madonna has delivered the next best thing.
—Tiffany Kelly, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Apr. 2026
The news arrives after months of Rodrigo teasing new music, most recently a cryptic hotline message that alluded to this year’s pink moon, which occurred on April 2.
—Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 2 Apr. 2026
Ford Racing factory driver Frédéric Vervisch laid the lap down yesterday, but waited until today—April 2nd—to share the story, lest anybody wonder whether this was a genuine effort, rather than some attempt at an April Fool’s gag teasing a forthcoming GT revival.
—Byron Hurd, The Drive, 2 Apr. 2026
Rodrigo and her team have been teasing the album since winter.
—Katie Simons, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026
As part of Xbox’s 25th anniversary celebration, the event will also feature FanFest, which looks back on 25 years of Xbox history while teasing what’s next for the platform.
—Kennedy French, Variety, 31 Mar. 2026
Cornfield draws out those stories like a raconteur teasing information between sips of bourbon.
—Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 31 Mar. 2026
The queen had a wry sense of humor and enjoyed Angela’s wit and her habit of playfully teasing other courtiers.
—Katie Nicholl, Vanity Fair, 30 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for teasing
Noun
-
The college agreed to faculty training on Title IX and a revision of college policies to clarify that refusal to use a person’s preferred name and pronoun could constitute harassment.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Their organizing was met with harassment and threats, Lee said.—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
On the Wednesday episode of the New Heights podcast, Travis and his brother Jason Kelce were joking about Travis going back to college to play basketball in an interview with Jerrod Calhoun, head coach for the University of Cincinnati’s men's team.—
Kathleen Perricone,
Entertainment Weekly,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The unusual survival of the snack soon sparked reactions online, with many commentators joking about the resilience of the popular cheese puffs.—
Claire Dodds,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The hawks are practically taunting the populists for their lack of influence.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Doncic and the Lakers appealed the call after he was given a technical for taunting against Orlando Magic forward Goga Bitadze in Saturday’s Lakers win.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The limited animation, built around Xerox-style images of the characters with various frozen expressions, is a little headache-inducing.—
Eric Vilas-Boas,
Vulture,
18 Mar. 2026
-
But the auctioning of legendary guitars brought the most money — and swear-inducing, nail-biting stress — to the event.—
Angie Martoccio,
Rolling Stone,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
DeVos wasn’t kidding, and on Monday, in front of close friends and family, current and former Magic executives and employees and local community leaders, a plaque was unveiled with Martins’ name on it at the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame that’s located in Kia Center on the terrace level.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
23 Mar. 2026
-
McKneely wasn’t kidding about the staples being removed.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
When Suzanna, a fledgling psychologist, tells, at Max’s urging, a mocking anecdote about one of her young clients, neither Becky nor the sensitive Andrew get the laugh.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Talkative characters like the froggish Mallow and even Bowser himself are motor-mouthed and sarcastic, nigglingly mocking Mario for his inability to speak in anything other than nods and pantomimes.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
There’s nothing frivolous about playing or listening to music.—
Keith Wagstaff,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Americans rightfully expect smart use of our tax dollars, not wasting enormous sums on frivolous, extravagant and absolutely unnecessary projects as a ballroom.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The filmmaker returns to Slovenia to capture a portrait of an inspiring female figure in her life.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Ordinary People, Extraordinary Discoveries One of the most inspiring parts of this story is who is making these discoveries.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Teasing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/teasing. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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