TEASINGLY Synonyms: 386 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'tease' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of tease are annoy , harass , harry , pester , plague , and worry . While all these words mean "to disturb or irritate by persistent acts," tease suggests an attempt to break down one's resistance or rouse to wrath. // children teased the dog

Q: In what contexts can 'annoy' take the place of 'tease'?

While in some cases nearly identical to tease , annoy implies disturbing one's composure or peace of mind by intrusion, interference, or petty attacks. // you're doing that just to annoy me

Q: When would 'harass' be a good substitute for 'tease'?

In some situations, the words harass and tease are roughly equivalent. However, harass implies petty persecutions or burdensome demands that exhaust one's nervous or mental power. // harassed on all sides by creditors

Q: When can 'harry' be used instead of 'tease'?

Although the words harry and tease have much in common, harry may imply heavy oppression or maltreatment. // the strikers had been harried by thugs

Q: Where would 'pester' be a reasonable alternative to 'tease'?

The synonyms pester and tease are sometimes interchangeable, but pester stresses the repetition of petty attacks. // constantly pestered with trivial complaints

Q: When might 'plague' be a better fit than 'tease'?

The words plague and tease can be used in similar contexts, but plague implies a painful and persistent affliction. // plagued all her life by poverty

Q: When is it sensible to use 'worry' instead of 'tease'?

The words worry and tease are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, worry implies an incessant goading or attacking that drives one to desperation. // pursued a policy of worrying the enemy

Q: How does the verb 'tease' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of tease are annoy , harass , harry , pester , plague , and worry . While all these words mean "to disturb or irritate by persistent acts," tease suggests an attempt to break down one's resistance or rouse to wrath. // children teased the dog

Q: In what contexts can 'annoy' take the place of 'tease'?

While in some cases nearly identical to tease , annoy implies disturbing one's composure or peace of mind by intrusion, interference, or petty attacks. // you're doing that just to annoy me

Q: When would 'harass' be a good substitute for 'tease'?

In some situations, the words harass and tease are roughly equivalent. However, harass implies petty persecutions or burdensome demands that exhaust one's nervous or mental power. // harassed on all sides by creditors

tease 1 of 5

noun (1)

Definition of tease next

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

tease

2 of 5

verb (1)

ˈtēz

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

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

teasing

3 of 5

noun (2)

as in harassment

the act of making unwelcome intrusions upon another stop that teasing before you make the baby cry

Synonyms & Similar Words

teasing

4 of 5

adjective

as in joking

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

as in taunting

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

teasing

5 of 5

verb (2)

present participle of tease

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

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

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb tease contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of tease are annoy, harass, harry, pester, plague, and worry. While all these words mean "to disturb or irritate by persistent acts," tease suggests an attempt to break down one's resistance or rouse to wrath.

children teased the dog

In what contexts can annoy take the place of tease?

While in some cases nearly identical to tease, annoy implies disturbing one's composure or peace of mind by intrusion, interference, or petty attacks.

you're doing that just to annoy me

When would harass be a good substitute for tease?

In some situations, the words harass and tease are roughly equivalent. However, harass implies petty persecutions or burdensome demands that exhaust one's nervous or mental power.

harassed on all sides by creditors

When can harry be used instead of tease?

Although the words harry and tease have much in common, harry may imply heavy oppression or maltreatment.

the strikers had been harried by thugs

Where would pester be a reasonable alternative to tease?

The synonyms pester and tease are sometimes interchangeable, but pester stresses the repetition of petty attacks.

constantly pestered with trivial complaints

When might plague be a better fit than tease?

The words plague and tease can be used in similar contexts, but plague implies a painful and persistent affliction.

plagued all her life by poverty

When is it sensible to use worry instead of tease?

The words worry and tease are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, worry implies an incessant goading or attacking that drives one to desperation.

pursued a policy of worrying the enemy

How does the verb tease contrast with its synonyms?

children teased the dog

In what contexts can annoy take the place of tease?

While in some cases nearly identical to tease, annoy implies disturbing one's composure or peace of mind by intrusion, interference, or petty attacks.

you're doing that just to annoy me

When would harass be a good substitute for tease?

In some situations, the words harass and tease are roughly equivalent. However, harass implies petty persecutions or burdensome demands that exhaust one's nervous or mental power.

harassed on all sides by creditors

When can harry be used instead of tease?

Although the words harry and tease have much in common, harry may imply heavy oppression or maltreatment.

the strikers had been harried by thugs

Where would pester be a reasonable alternative to tease?

The synonyms pester and tease are sometimes interchangeable, but pester stresses the repetition of petty attacks.

constantly pestered with trivial complaints

When might plague be a better fit than tease?

The words plague and tease can be used in similar contexts, but plague implies a painful and persistent affliction.

plagued all her life by poverty

When is it sensible to use worry instead of tease?

The words worry and tease are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, worry implies an incessant goading or attacking that drives one to desperation.

pursued a policy of worrying the enemy

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of tease

Noun

Abby is reading these teases after wrangling a feisty debate for 10 minutes. —

Dominick Mastrangelo, The Hill, 11 Mar. 2026 The fact that a major publishing announcement (or at least a tease of one) is being made on a mainstream entertainment podcast rather than through a traditional book-industry channel speaks to how pop culture and publishing are increasingly intertwined. —

Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 4 Mar. 2026

Verb

There was no indication of the context of the posts, which racked up millions of views, with many online commenters theorizing the accounts could have been hacked or that an official was cryptically teasing something. —

Dylan Butts, CNBC, 26 Mar. 2026 If those changes aren’t enough to tease performance enthusiasts away from the gasoline-only Grand Sport, Chevy has more goodies on offer. —

Byron Hurd, The Drive, 26 Mar. 2026

Noun

The video prompted some unexpected playground-level teasing and a surge in Big Arch interest. —

Ramon Padilla, USA Today, 4 Mar. 2026 After nearly a year of teasing, Underscores has finally shared the details of her new album. —

Walden Green, Pitchfork, 27 Feb. 2026

Verb

Starbucks Rewards members who use the mobile app may have received a push notification on Monday morning teasing the new drink. —

Greta Cross, USA Today, 23 Mar. 2026 Late rap legend Big Pun cut his teeth there, teasing future hits from his classic 1998 debut album, Capital Punishment, at the venue. —

Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 19 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tease

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tease

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

Definition of inducing

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“Tease.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tease. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.

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