teased

verbaggravate, provoke

Synonyms for teased

verb aggravate, provoke

Antonyms for teased

Word Origin & History

Old English tæsan "pluck, pull apart" (fibers of wool, flax, etc.), from West Germanic *taisijanan (cf. Danish tæse, Middle Dutch tesen, Dutch tezen "to draw, pull, scratch," Old High German zeisan "to tease, pick wool").

The original sense is of running thorns through wool or flax to separate, shred, or card the fibers. The figurative sense of "vex, worry, annoy" emerged 1610s. For similar sense development, see heckle. Hairdressing sense is recorded from 1957.

Example Sentences for teased

"Some of us ought to tell Reddy of Jessica's thoughtfulness," teased Anne.

When Lantier came in that evening, Gervaise was amused when Clemence teased him about the blonde.

"I'm too happy to be teased, Eric," she answered, nestling to his side.

And I teased the boy, never knowing he'd mind, and when he did I just kept on to spite him.

Phyllis teased, as she swung herself up on the kitchen table.

"I heard that Jerry Dodd was sick in bed all yesterday," Rosamond teased.

And it teased her so that he kept it up, for he liked a joke as well as the next fellow.

He is very playful, but sometimes shows his teeth when he is teased.

I told him then that I would not do what he asked if he teased me for a month.

On the other hand, indulge her, and she will flatter as much as she teased before.