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.

So first, let’s tease apart the American higher ed model, it’s a weird hybrid of the German Research Institute and the Oxford-Cambridge English Residential Training College.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026

Shakira posted a one-minute video on Instagram from Brazil's Maracana stadium to tease the track that is out on 14 May and also features Nigerian singer Burna Boy.

From BBC • May 7, 2026

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

“The British made up this song, to tease us in battle,” Paul added.

From I Survived the American Revolution, 1776 by Lauren Tarshis

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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