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
Kenneal Patterson, Vanity Fair, 29 May 2026
Netflix’s The Boroughs ends with a twist, teasing the future of the series and hinting at the true origin of Mother.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
But, more recently, he's stepped into the political ring, sharing his takes on hot button issues and even teasing the possibility of a presidential run.
—Derek Lawrence, Entertainment Weekly, 28 May 2026
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
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
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
Off Campus is playing the long game by also teasing the fourth installment in Kennedy’s series, The Goal.
—Kenneal Patterson, Vanity Fair, 29 May 2026
Netflix’s The Boroughs ends with a twist, teasing the future of the series and hinting at the true origin of Mother.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
But, more recently, he's stepped into the political ring, sharing his takes on hot button issues and even teasing the possibility of a presidential run.
—Derek Lawrence, Entertainment Weekly, 28 May 2026
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for teasing
Noun
-
Carpenter filed a request for a civil harassment restraining order against Applegate in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Friday.—
Dennis Romero,
NBC news,
2 June 2026
-
According to the lawsuit, the union’s anti-discrimination and anti-retaliation policy prohibits retaliation against employees for lodging a discrimination or harassment complaint or assisting in the investigation of such a complaint.—
Judy L. Thomas,
Kansas City Star,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
After joking, Bruno let his client and her followers know that the exercise was meant to target the core and back muscles.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
23 May 2026
-
Jack White served as the show’s deadpan musical director, cueing music off a boombox and joking with Colbert during the hour-long episode.—
Anthony Thompson,
USA Today,
23 May 2026
Verb
-
Afroman published songs and music videos taunting the deputies.—
Andrew Graham
May 28,
Sacbee.com,
28 May 2026
-
The days of some taunting him when Palace squeezed past Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier this season are in the past.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
25 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
-
Zucker watched the video and thought Harper — more known for his brush with greatness as a two-time NL MVP — was kidding.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 May 2026
-
Gilpin isn’t kidding about the haunting.—
Hunter Ingram,
Variety,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
Hilton's campaign then shared Steyer's post on X, mocking the Democrat.—
Jackson Thompson OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
30 May 2026
-
Underneath the topmost layer (a user clicking through a browser), a comprehensive E2E setup involves mocking production endpoints, intercepting network requests, seeding databases, making precise assertions at every layer of the stack and integrating tightly with CI pipelines.—
Ethan Pronev,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Adjective
-
The lawsuit was widely viewed by First Amendment experts as frivolous and without merit.—
Joseph Konig,
PEOPLE,
22 May 2026
-
Joy is not frivolous, pleasure is not shallow, and connection is not optional.—
Maia Niguel Hoskin,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
Sergei Bobrovsky The free-agent pool of goalies this summer isn’t inspiring.—
Matthew Fairburn,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
-
That experience confirmed Lean’s boredom with studio shoots and his hunger to work outside in inspiring locations.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Teasing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/teasing. Accessed 2 Jun. 2026.
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