tickle

verb

Definition of ticklenext
1
as in to itch

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2
as in to excite

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Dissimilar Words

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 tickle There are also a few other flavors that might tickle your fancy. — Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 30 May 2026 As mentioned, Kate is a gifted musician herself and has tickled the ivories at several public appearances, including her annual Christmas carol service. — Tessa Petak, InStyle, 23 May 2026 The woozy, choppily edited party sequence, featuring lots of handheld, cellphone-style footage and glassy slow-motion interludes, clearly illustrates the camaraderie and profound affection between the five main characters, who tease and tickle one another like sportive, overgrown puppies. — Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026 Crisp lemonade, frozen strawberries, and club soda blend up into a bubbly, effervescent drink that'll tickle your nose and your taste buds. — Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tickle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tickle
  1. itch
  2. excite
  3. tingle
  4. amuse
  5. sting
  6. titillate
  7. bore
  8. satiate
Verb
  • While he's helped run his family's restaurant in Baltimore County for many years, he's been itching to start up his own.
    — Dennis Valera, CBS News, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Although not the prohibitive favorite in the SEC, the Tide are still College Football Playoff contenders and are itching for some payback.
    — Andre C. Fernandez, Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of itch
Verb
  • Quinn has been coaching for 33 years — this is his ninth as an NFL head coach — and he’s always been excited by the weight of expectation.
    — Tashan Reed, Washington Post, 11 Sep. 2026
  • But with all due respect to the statisticians among us, most people can’t get all that excited about facts and figures.
    — Bernard May, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of excite
Verb
  • And, in recent years, a new culinary wave has emerged, as chefs create bold fusion dishes or, more subtly, adapt Japanese recipes to uniquely Brazilian produce, from Amazon river fish to jambu, a tongue-tingling herb.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Paper menus allow diners to tick off orders of lip-tingling laab, luscious khao soi, and juicy pomelo salad, feeling like a never-ending invitation to add just one more course.
    — The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of tingle
Verb
  • Dozens of content creators, like Food Beast and Costco New Deals, rushed to share the find with their followers, who were either amused, horrified or both.
    — Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Prominent royal commentators and people online were amused, annoyed or more by the couple’s belief that they should have been consulted before the letter went out.
    — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of amuse
Verb
  • Mas launched his own stinging move around the same place that Omrzel attacked.
    — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
  • And the harsh reviews from her fellow breakers weren’t even what stung Gunn the most.
    — Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of sting
Verb
  • Brands today need nuance to be titillating—nudity and provocation are too available.
    — José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 2 Sep. 2026
  • So there’s a lot for Mark to be titillated by in that moment.
    — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of titillate
Verb
  • Dewey is the town sheriff; Gale has retired as a reporter and is married to him, but bored in Woodsboro.
    — Michael Lee Simpson, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Some speciality areas like trucking can get brutal and boring with long hours.
    — George Yang, PC Magazine, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of bore
Verb
  • Eleven watchmakers dropped fresh timepieces this August, buoying the industry and satiating collectors ahead of Geneva Watch Days in early September.
    — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Furthermore, the biennial denied that the renaming was meant to satiate China, which also has a pavilion at the Gwangju Biennale and which does not recognize Taiwan as a nation.
    — Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of satiate

Browse Nearby Words

ticking off
tickle
tickled
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Cite this Entry

“Tickle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tickle. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

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