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
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show current usage.
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Recent Examples of teasing
Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 20 Feb. 2026
The affection between the pair is obvious, even over a Zoom call, and the conversation is peppered with moments of playful teasing and genuine warmth.
—James Pearce, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2026
After much teasing last week, Willow has released a new album.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 17 Feb. 2026
Fans will just have to bear through the teasing until next year to see what Tierney has in store for them!
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Feb. 2026
Even if humor and teasing are standard in your relationship with your child, this is a moment that calls for a more thoughtful response.
—Christian Dashiell, Parents, 28 Jan. 2026
The clip also features scenes from a previous trailer teasing images of the war and Odysseus’ journey home.
—Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2026
There will be in-store dedicated marketing and email and social teasing.
—Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 22 Jan. 2026
Today, after years of teasing, the Harlem rapper A$AP Rocky drops his fourth studio album (and first in almost 8 years), Don’t Be Dumb.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 16 Jan. 2026
Kate Perez, USA Today, 14 Feb. 2026
Netflix released a trailer on Friday teasing what’s to come from the remaining four episodes, which are set to drop on February 26.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2026
The song first premiered during a 2025 Drake livestream teasing his forthcoming album Iceman.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 12 Feb. 2026
Harris is already signaling that she isn’t done with her political career, doing interviews on her book tour and teasing a potential comeback this week online targeting Gen Z voters who deserted the party in 2024.
—Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 10 Feb. 2026
But their antics seem more than just besties cruising around town, there’s a palpable romantic tension in the air, and the trailer is possibly teasing an actual explosion in Bethany’s relationship as Rob gets iced out more and more.
—Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 10 Feb. 2026
The tip of his tongue was grazing her ear now, teasing it with dampness.
—Literary Hub, 9 Feb. 2026
OpenAI has been teasing the introduction of ads for weeks.
—Jared Perlo, NBC news, 9 Feb. 2026
Dunkin' has been teasing the Big Game ad for some time.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Feb. 2026
Noun
Carolyn charms everyone with her effortless teasing and joking around.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 20 Feb. 2026
The affection between the pair is obvious, even over a Zoom call, and the conversation is peppered with moments of playful teasing and genuine warmth.
—James Pearce, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2026
After much teasing last week, Willow has released a new album.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 17 Feb. 2026
Fans will just have to bear through the teasing until next year to see what Tierney has in store for them!
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Feb. 2026
Even if humor and teasing are standard in your relationship with your child, this is a moment that calls for a more thoughtful response.
—Christian Dashiell, Parents, 28 Jan. 2026
The clip also features scenes from a previous trailer teasing images of the war and Odysseus’ journey home.
—Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2026
There will be in-store dedicated marketing and email and social teasing.
—Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 22 Jan. 2026
Today, after years of teasing, the Harlem rapper A$AP Rocky drops his fourth studio album (and first in almost 8 years), Don’t Be Dumb.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 16 Jan. 2026
Verb
Humphrey's work consists of reviewing thousands of messages and tags, seeking permission from original video creators and balancing humor with teasing.
—Kate Perez, USA Today, 14 Feb. 2026
Netflix released a trailer on Friday teasing what’s to come from the remaining four episodes, which are set to drop on February 26.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2026
The song first premiered during a 2025 Drake livestream teasing his forthcoming album Iceman.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 12 Feb. 2026
Harris is already signaling that she isn’t done with her political career, doing interviews on her book tour and teasing a potential comeback this week online targeting Gen Z voters who deserted the party in 2024.
—Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 10 Feb. 2026
But their antics seem more than just besties cruising around town, there’s a palpable romantic tension in the air, and the trailer is possibly teasing an actual explosion in Bethany’s relationship as Rob gets iced out more and more.
—Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 10 Feb. 2026
The tip of his tongue was grazing her ear now, teasing it with dampness.
—Literary Hub, 9 Feb. 2026
OpenAI has been teasing the introduction of ads for weeks.
—Jared Perlo, NBC news, 9 Feb. 2026
Dunkin' has been teasing the Big Game ad for some time.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for teasing
Noun
-
The measures follow years of accusations by Palestinians that actions by settlers and the military — campaigns of violence, harassment and demolitions — have pushed them from their land.—
Sam Metz,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Stop this unacceptable harassment of the Jewish community here in Antwerp and in Belgium.—
Naomi Lim,
The Washington Examiner,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Obama dismissed those rumors, joking that if aliens existed and were being concealed, even the president was not in on it.—
Adisa Hargett-Robinson,
The Washington Examiner,
15 Feb. 2026
-
The night had begun with Evangelos Marinakis laughing and joking on the touchline with injured defender Murillo.—
Paul Taylor,
New York Times,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Defense attorney Kevin Rousseau suggested in witness questioning that Bell-Johnson, who is known as One Leg and uses a prosthetic limb, sought comfort in gang membership in part because of taunting connected to his disability.—
Emerson Clarridge
Updated February 9,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Another child care center director recounted how vehicles full of taunting men have driven by more than once.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The cringe factor is really great and anxiety-inducing.—
Destiny Jackson,
Deadline,
27 Jan. 2026
-
For Greendeer, this is the latest example of hits that are at once fierce and panic-inducing.—
Natalie Eilbert,
jsonline.com,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
There are also cool maps on the local prevalence of certain health conditions, from arthritis and asthma to cancer and high cholesterol to diabetes and depression to — not kidding here — where people have lost all their teeth.—
Teri Sforza,
Oc Register,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Literally toxic lesbians — kidding.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
1 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
This self-mocking move may be just the prelude to a fuller jeans-guy renaissance, Heffernan suggested.—
Daniel Engber,
The Atlantic,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Strickland said, mocking NFL leadership.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Most legal analysts viewed the case as frivolous.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Telanee Smith voted against the settlement, accusing Sinwelski of filing frivolous lawsuits.—
Evy Lewis,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Talking about death can be educational, empowering and inspiring.—
Ut Community Press,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
-
How inspiring for our young learners to see, in looking at Joe McKendry’s exquisite tableau, faces that reflect their own.—
The Atlantic,
The Atlantic,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Teasing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/teasing. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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