1
as in teaser
a person who causes repeated emotional pain, distress, or annoyance to another
she can be a very cruel tease when she happens upon an unpopular girl who is easily hurt
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in nuisance
one who is obnoxiously annoying
my youngest brother is a complete tease, following me around everywhere and aping my every move
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to joke
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 to taunt
to attack repeatedly with mean put-downs or insults
grew up being teased because his parents were hog farmers
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in harassment
the act of making unwelcome intrusions upon another
stop that teasing before you make the baby cry
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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Recent Examples of tease
Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 25 Jan. 2026
After a season-long tease that one of the contestants is the most decorated to grace the Masked Singer stage, the judges all felt like Scarab was it.
—Jillian Sederholm, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Jan. 2026
Kennedy French, Variety, 13 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
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
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
See All Example Sentences for tease
Noun
Much like Zayn, there had, at times, been teases that Orton would be involved in the WWE title scene come WrestleMania 42.
—Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 25 Jan. 2026
After a season-long tease that one of the contestants is the most decorated to grace the Masked Singer stage, the judges all felt like Scarab was it.
—Jillian Sederholm, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Jan. 2026
Verb
As his feelings for Sophie deepen, the trailer teases rising tension around class, identity and loyalty, forcing Benedict to confront whether love can truly exist outside the rigid expectations of the Ton.
—Kennedy French, Variety, 13 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
Noun
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
Verb
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
See All Example Sentences for tease
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tease
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
Adjective
-
Telanee Smith voted against the settlement, accusing Sinwelski of filing frivolous lawsuits.—
Evy Lewis,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Feb. 2026
-
For many adults, play may seem frivolous or even irresponsible, but research tells a different story.—
Katharine Gammon,
Time,
6 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
Adjective
-
The bittersweet musical numbers lend all the characters — even the comic-relief ones — some modicum of humanity, and Latif’s playful visual style enhances the ironic elements of the tale.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
16 Feb. 2026
-
The result is a surreal and darkly comic tale set inside a decaying industrial wig factory, where workers are pushed into punishing overtime shifts by the manipulative incentives of an exploitative lady overseer.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Robbins broke out as a motivational speaker sensation in the mid-90’s, parlaying his program into transformational programs, immersive experiences and executive education.—
Matt Donnelly,
Variety,
11 Feb. 2026
-
But there was one moment during the performance that stuck with me, when Bad Bunny gave an impassioned motivational speech in Spanish, urging the audience to recognize their worth.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Weekly, Weber and Finger have kept reliable and amusing tabs on the ever-expanding universe of Whos and dissected the increasingly jumbled celebrity hierarchy.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
13 Feb. 2026
-
In his gobsmacking third appearance in the franchise, Tommy continues to be the victim of, well, not just Jason Voorhees, but somewhat amusing coincidence as well.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The builders’ alternating harassment and bribery leaves Cook with little recourse, especially when mafioso-like representatives begin dropping by at all hours, leading to dry exchanges — what little dialogue the film has is extremely funny.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
19 Feb. 2026
-
This Elvis comes across confident, breezy, comfortable and funny.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The stars of the Olympics are the athletes who stand on the podium, adorned in medals, but Bruna Moura is proof that every athlete has an inspirational story to tell.—
Don Riddell,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Except maybe ask for more inspirational talks and opulent enormous spaces.—
Hazlitt,
Hazlitt,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tease.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tease. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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