Synonyms of tease

tease 1 of 2

noun

1

as in tormenter

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

• tormenter
• teaser
• harasser
• torturer
• tormentor
• attacker
• mocker
• taunter
• quiz
• quizzer
• heckler
• needler
• victimizer
• ridiculer
• accuser
• baiter
• persecutor
• insulter
• assailant
• detractor
• scoffer
• smart alec
• pest
• scorner
• wise guy
• smart aleck
• jiber
• smarty
• derider
• wiseacre
• jeerer
• giber
• kidder
• troublemaker
• smartie
• satirist
• smarty-pants
• disturber
• belittler
• bother
• lampooner
• trash-talker
• blamer
• molester

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• guard
• protector
• defender
• savior
• saviour
• deliverer
• rescuer
• solace
• comforter
• champion
• bodyguard
• soother
• succorer

2

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

• nuisance
• annoyance
• annoyer
• pest
• teaser
• bother
• pain in the neck
• gadfly
• pain
• headache
• nudnick
• gnawer
• persecutor
• nudnik
• tormenter
• plague
• interrupter
• interruptor
• tormentor
• harrier
• heckler
• torturer
• harasser
• molester
• hassle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• charmer
• smoothie
• comforter
• soother
• smoothy
• solacer

tease

2 of 2

verb

ˈtēz 

1

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

• joke
• kid
• razz
• roast
• rib
• ride
• fun
• rally
• jive
• banter
• goof on
• josh
• take the mickey out of
• chaff
• fool
• jest
• quip
• string along
• gag
• wisecrack
• jolly
• jape
• yuck
• yuk

2

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

• taunt
• mock
• annoy
• bother
• ride
• bait
• ridicule
• pick on
• heckle
• needle
• irritate
• torture
• haze
• try
• make game of
• hassle
• plague
• trouble
• pester
• test
• deride
• spite
• jeer
• disturb
• torment
• bully
• jibe
• burn (up)
• rile
• aggravate
• vex
• gibe
• goad
• harass
• irk
• ruffle
• nag
• exasperate
• itch
• bug
• gnaw (at)
• hack (off)
• badger
• frost
• get
• gripe
• put out
• pique
• fret
• grate
• perturb
• dog
• discomfort
• chafe
• peeve
• agitate
• persecute
• gall
• bedevil
• hound
• terrorize
• nettle
• browbeat
• nark
• aggrieve
• beleaguer
• rasp
• hagride
• hector
• harry

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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of tease

Noun

Even the momentous Hulk showdown amounts to a big nothing, however—a major tease that becomes another speed bump on the MCU’s rocky road of late. —David Sims, The Atlantic, 14 Feb. 2025

The image teases both the film’s narrative developments and its jagged formal approach, as the director (who shares editing duties with both co-writer Karen Plata and DP Odei Zabaleta) aims to structurally replicate the non-linear disorder and occasional blind spots of ruptured childhood memories. —Guy Lodge, Variety, 26 Feb. 2025

Verb

The restaurant teased the possibility of a nationwide comeback based on customers’ responses. —Tanasia Kenney, Miami Herald, 11 Mar. 2025

Cardi, a fan of the show, teased the trailer wearing a very mid-aughts hair color combo that would've been right at home on Hayley Williams or the local skate park. —Kara Nesvig, Allure, 10 Mar. 2025