Definitions

tease

[teez] / tiz /

VERB

aggravate, provoke

Synonyms

STRONGEST

annoy badger bother harass mock needle nudge pester pick on ridicule tantalize taunt torment

STRONG

bait banter bedevil beleaguer chaff devil disturb dog gibe gnaw goad harry hector importune jive josh plague rag rally razz rib ride roast slam snap sound spoof vex worry

WEAK

be at give a hard time lead on put down send up swipe at

Antonyms

STRONGEST

aid delight flatter help make happy please praise

STRONG

assist free quiet reassure soothe

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Guthrie, 54, read the tease of news stories at the top of the NBC morning program and made only a brief reference to her absence before heading into the day’s stories.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 6, 2026

The movie’s real twist is in everything that follows the trailer’s tease.

From Salon • Apr. 3, 2026

"These simulations allow us to tease out small effects to determine what actually happens, helping us to understand our observations."

From Science Daily • Mar. 24, 2026

To tease out the underlying trend, the Fed has focused on core services prices excluding housing.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 21, 2026

Then, unable to resist another chance to tease, she added, “Unless wicked ghosts appear and threaten to eat us. Then I shall surely scream myself. Eeeeeeek!”

From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood

Vocabulary lists containing tease

myPerspectives 9.1

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"My Superpowers"

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"Ode on a Grecian Urn" by John Keats

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