as in harassment
the act of making unwelcome intrusions upon another
stop that teasing before you make the baby cry
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in joking
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
2
as in taunting
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
1
as in kidding
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
2
as in mocking
to attack repeatedly with mean put-downs or insults
grew up being teased because his parents were hog farmers
Synonyms & Similar 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 teasing
Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026
Overall, Mau took his time letting mixes build, extending a teasing, slow burn style that exemplified restraint and good taste, and always paid off when the beat dropped.
—Katie Bain, Billboard, 16 Mar. 2026
Cawood introduced Gavitt — a snippet of Cawood’s remarks were carried on the telecast, subjecting him to considerable teasing — who spoke live on national television at the front of a Hyatt ballroom full of people.
—Bill Hancock, Kansas City Star, 12 Mar. 2026
Most of the threat to Iceland came from wingers Lauren James on the left and Lauren Hemp on the right, who cut inside delivering teasing crosses.
—Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2026
The video prompted some unexpected playground-level teasing and a surge in Big Arch interest.
—Ramon Padilla, USA Today, 4 Mar. 2026
After nearly a year of teasing, Underscores has finally shared the details of her new album.
—Walden Green, Pitchfork, 27 Feb. 2026
His voice nice, a little teasing.
—Mary Gaitskill, New Yorker, 22 Feb. 2026
Carolyn charms everyone with her effortless teasing and joking around.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 20 Feb. 2026
Devon Ivie, Vulture, 27 Mar. 2026
There was no indication of the context of the posts, which racked up millions of views, with many online commenters theorizing the accounts could have been hacked or that an official was cryptically teasing something.
—Dylan Butts, CNBC, 26 Mar. 2026
Wilson, the famously successful business owner and philanthropist, is already teasing another mayoral bid.
—Laura Washington, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2026
Gay hasn’t been shy about teasing the details.
—Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Mar. 2026
Starbucks Rewards members who use the mobile app may have received a push notification on Monday morning teasing the new drink.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 23 Mar. 2026
Late rap legend Big Pun cut his teeth there, teasing future hits from his classic 1998 debut album, Capital Punishment, at the venue.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 19 Mar. 2026
Horan first began teasing the follow-up to 2023’s The Show on Valentine’s Day.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 18 Mar. 2026
Netflix’s live-action One Piece is deep into production on Season 3, with the beloved Arabasta arc taking center stage, a wave of new casting locked in, and stars teasing a darker, more mature tone ahead.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2026
Noun
The one teasing bit of historical intrigue comes when Le Bail’s lawyer (Elijah Wood) insists that the rules state each clan must attack Grace and Faith using weapons from the era in which their ancestors made their satanic pact.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026
Overall, Mau took his time letting mixes build, extending a teasing, slow burn style that exemplified restraint and good taste, and always paid off when the beat dropped.
—Katie Bain, Billboard, 16 Mar. 2026
Cawood introduced Gavitt — a snippet of Cawood’s remarks were carried on the telecast, subjecting him to considerable teasing — who spoke live on national television at the front of a Hyatt ballroom full of people.
—Bill Hancock, Kansas City Star, 12 Mar. 2026
Most of the threat to Iceland came from wingers Lauren James on the left and Lauren Hemp on the right, who cut inside delivering teasing crosses.
—Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2026
The video prompted some unexpected playground-level teasing and a surge in Big Arch interest.
—Ramon Padilla, USA Today, 4 Mar. 2026
After nearly a year of teasing, Underscores has finally shared the details of her new album.
—Walden Green, Pitchfork, 27 Feb. 2026
His voice nice, a little teasing.
—Mary Gaitskill, New Yorker, 22 Feb. 2026
Carolyn charms everyone with her effortless teasing and joking around.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 20 Feb. 2026
Verb
Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks have been back on speaking terms for a few months thanks to the rerelease of their debut album, Buckingham Nicks, and now the diva himself is teasing that 2026 could serve as a reunion of sorts for the famously estranged exes.
—Devon Ivie, Vulture, 27 Mar. 2026
There was no indication of the context of the posts, which racked up millions of views, with many online commenters theorizing the accounts could have been hacked or that an official was cryptically teasing something.
—Dylan Butts, CNBC, 26 Mar. 2026
Wilson, the famously successful business owner and philanthropist, is already teasing another mayoral bid.
—Laura Washington, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2026
Gay hasn’t been shy about teasing the details.
—Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Mar. 2026
Starbucks Rewards members who use the mobile app may have received a push notification on Monday morning teasing the new drink.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 23 Mar. 2026
Late rap legend Big Pun cut his teeth there, teasing future hits from his classic 1998 debut album, Capital Punishment, at the venue.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 19 Mar. 2026
Horan first began teasing the follow-up to 2023’s The Show on Valentine’s Day.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 18 Mar. 2026
Netflix’s live-action One Piece is deep into production on Season 3, with the beloved Arabasta arc taking center stage, a wave of new casting locked in, and stars teasing a darker, more mature tone ahead.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for teasing
Noun
-
According to Sethi, a 2024 survey showed that 7 out of 10 New Yorkers have experienced some form of street harassment.—
Allen Devlin,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Aside from the monetary penalty, the settlement requires Justin and Wonderful to halt any harassment or retaliation, undergo compliance audits and take other measures at the vineyard operations.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Comedian Charlie Berens also popularized the ritual, joking that it can be broken down into recognizable steps.—
Deirdre Bardolf,
FOXNews.com,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Over the radio, Bing Crosby is crooning, Bob Hope is joking, and news of the war — against Hitler, against Japan — keeps sizzling and crackling across the dial.—
Patt Morrison,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The hawks are practically taunting the populists for their lack of influence.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Doncic and the Lakers appealed the call after he was given a technical for taunting against Orlando Magic forward Goga Bitadze in Saturday’s Lakers win.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The limited animation, built around Xerox-style images of the characters with various frozen expressions, is a little headache-inducing.—
Eric Vilas-Boas,
Vulture,
18 Mar. 2026
-
But the auctioning of legendary guitars brought the most money — and swear-inducing, nail-biting stress — to the event.—
Angie Martoccio,
Rolling Stone,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
DeVos wasn’t kidding, and on Monday, in front of close friends and family, current and former Magic executives and employees and local community leaders, a plaque was unveiled with Martins’ name on it at the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame that’s located in Kia Center on the terrace level.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
23 Mar. 2026
-
McKneely wasn’t kidding about the staples being removed.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Social media is reacting to the latest skit by comedian Druski, mocking women in right-leaning political spaces.—
Taylor Ardrey,
USA Today,
26 Mar. 2026
-
People created memes and videos mocking Roan for mistreating children.—
Lisa Gutierrez,
Kansas City Star,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The title song was appropriately fun and frivolous for a movie that, among other things, featured Porky Pig dunking the basketball.—
Jim Harrington,
Mercury News,
20 Mar. 2026
-
The kennel club responded that it’s committed to canine health and called the suit frivolous.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The dynamic stage production, directed by Phillip M Church, features Justine Chichester, Shawn Buller and Laquantis Morton who deliver—verbatim—Taussig’s inspiring and evocative voice.—
Christina Mayo,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Attendees will receive a pair of wireless headphones and an earful of inspiring sounds.—
Ben Crandell,
Sun Sentinel,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Teasing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/teasing. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
