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
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
Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 14 Apr. 2026
Diana Tsui, Footwear News, 24 May 2026
On Sunday, the platform released its latest ‘Coming Soon’ promo, teasing new shows like Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Lanterns and Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, as well as returning titles like Season 4 of The Gilded Age and Season 3 of House of the Dragon.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 24 May 2026
The season ends on a cliffhanger teasing Cooper’s trouble with the law.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 22 May 2026
Appearing on camera alongside his 10-year-old son Augustus Juppiter, Corgan spent the few minutes teasing something mysterious.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 20 May 2026
Ackles wished Padalecki a happy 38th birthday on July 19, 2020, teasing him in a tribute with one of their last photos together on set with costars Alexander Calvert and Misha Collins.
—Andrea Wurzburger, PEOPLE, 20 May 2026
All the thespian’s chemistry felt less like castmates promoting a production and more like siblings teasing one another out of deep affection.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 18 May 2026
Luther Ford’s start in this industry began with a teasing dare from his relatives.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2026
Shania Twain has fans buzzing after teasing a new single on social media.
—Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 8 May 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
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
Jonathan Anderson, teasing his resort show in Los Angeles, posted a glittering ladybug bag on his Instagram.
—Diana Tsui, Footwear News, 24 May 2026
On Sunday, the platform released its latest ‘Coming Soon’ promo, teasing new shows like Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Lanterns and Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, as well as returning titles like Season 4 of The Gilded Age and Season 3 of House of the Dragon.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 24 May 2026
The season ends on a cliffhanger teasing Cooper’s trouble with the law.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 22 May 2026
Appearing on camera alongside his 10-year-old son Augustus Juppiter, Corgan spent the few minutes teasing something mysterious.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 20 May 2026
Ackles wished Padalecki a happy 38th birthday on July 19, 2020, teasing him in a tribute with one of their last photos together on set with costars Alexander Calvert and Misha Collins.
—Andrea Wurzburger, PEOPLE, 20 May 2026
All the thespian’s chemistry felt less like castmates promoting a production and more like siblings teasing one another out of deep affection.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 18 May 2026
Luther Ford’s start in this industry began with a teasing dare from his relatives.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2026
Shania Twain has fans buzzing after teasing a new single on social media.
—Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 8 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for teasing
Noun
-
Human crowding, harassment and chronic disturbance continue largely unchecked.—
Letters To The Editor,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 May 2026
-
At the time, the account in question could not be clearly identified and was believed to potentially be an individual who had previously been subject to a restraining order for the harassment of a Town employee.—
Logan Smith,
CBS News,
24 May 2026
Verb
-
After a while, my joking friend picked up on the other friend’s energy and apologized.—
Harriette Cole,
Mercury News,
18 May 2026
-
The two have grown close as a regular double-play duo, constantly joking and laughing together in the clubhouse and on the field.—
Brendan Kuty,
New York Times,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
His incarceration doesn't last long, though, because a taunting serial killer spurs a prison break.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 May 2026
-
Among his most controversial posts was sharing a video in 2024 of University of Mississippi students, nearly all of them white males, taunting a Black woman.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
Most of this wouldn’t be so cringe-inducing, especially given the autobiographical nature of it all, if the film had ever established a better sense of who Kristen is outside of surfing and AJ.—
Marya E. Gates,
IndieWire,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
At the time, the race’s series was known (not kidding, and no relation) as the Busch Series.—
Jeff Rosen,
Kansas City Star,
22 May 2026
-
Gosling, of course, was kidding.—
Jake Coyle,
Fortune,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
And Jude isn’t above including a mocking slow-motion shot of a spoiled French boy totally whiffing a soccer kick.—
Joshua Rothkopf,
Los Angeles Times,
22 May 2026
-
Huxley might easily have written a simpler novel glorifying intellectuals while mocking Stoyte’s greed and indifference to suffering.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 May 2026
Adjective
-
Joy is not frivolous, pleasure is not shallow, and connection is not optional.—
Maia Niguel Hoskin,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
-
The producers tried to throw out the estate’s complaint under California’s anti-SLAPP statute, which is intended to protect free speech against frivolous litigation.—
Anna Tingley,
Variety,
12 May 2026
Adjective
-
Gemini season begins today, turning your attention toward joy, expression, and what feels fun and inspiring.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
20 May 2026
-
Now the Commonwealth should follow Britain through it, not remove itself from this inspiring story.—
Katharine Silbaugh,
STAT,
19 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Teasing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/teasing. Accessed 27 May. 2026.
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