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tease

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verb

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

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 tease
Noun
The remainder of the trailer teases drama among the designers — and with the judges. Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 1 July 2025 Ivory has yet to address this tease by Bayley, nor has there been any reports that WWE is interested in making the match happen. Andrew Ravens‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025
Verb
Trump teases announcements on trade negotiations with seven countries. FOXNews.com, 9 July 2025 More changes on the way Noem also teased that more upgrades are likely to come to TSA checkpoints as technology continues to improve. Zach Wichter, USA Today, 9 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for tease
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tease
Noun
  • The city’s multidisciplinary public task force, established in August 2023, was formed to investigate businesses and properties that have public safety concerns and city ordinance violations like nuisances and municipal offenses.
    PJ Green July 10, Kansas City Star, 10 July 2025
  • There is also an AI consultant… who probably would have come in handy last season dealing with the artificial intelligence nuisances that were Ainsley and Jankie.
    Dalton Ross, EW.com, 8 July 2025
Verb
  • There were a lot of pranks, joking and just overall funny stuff that went on behind the scenes in or around the lunchroom.
    Corky Carroll, Oc Register, 11 July 2025
  • But whether with Felix or on her own, Jessica is a bit all over the map, with her behavior frequently feeling like it’s meant to meet the needs of a particular scene or joke rather than as a consistent throughline for the season.
    Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 11 July 2025
Verb
  • Both organizations claimed Hinton taunted deputies at his arraignment.
    Erin Glynn, The Enquirer, 3 July 2025
  • For the last 15 years, Chicago’s drill rap scene has often led to fatal gun violence as rival artists trade insults and threats through their lyrics and social media taunts.
    Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 3 July 2025
Noun
  • Then, teases trickled out for a few months before, and unexpectedly, WB dropped a teaser on social media in May, sending fans into a whirlwind.
    Rance Collins, IndieWire, 12 July 2025
  • After years of waiting and teasers from director James Gunn, the new Superman movie is now playing in theaters.
    Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 12 July 2025
Noun
  • Most concerning: The Royals’ lineup is far past the point of frustration and teetering toward pure annoyance for those at The K. Here is how Saturday’s scenario played out.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 13 July 2025
  • Don’t think, just play Despite its minor annoyances, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 lives up to the hype and should be a day-one treat for gamers worldwide.
    Matt Gardner, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
Verb
  • For the most part, though, these tools have been aimed at parents or educators, not kids themselves.
    Lila Shroff, The Atlantic, 14 July 2025
  • Apparently Brooks Nader wasn’t kidding about that, because on July 8 she was spotted freeing the nipple in a sheer black top on a dinner date with friend Lauren Sanchez in Paris, per photos published by the Daily Mail.
    Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 9 July 2025
Noun
  • According to Orkin, the pest control company, scorpions come indoors in search of food.
    Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 6 July 2025
  • Using a mosquito 'bucket of doom' is much cheaper than getting a pest control service to come fog or spray your yard.
    Elliott Harrell, Southern Living, 4 July 2025
Noun
  • Chicago Cubs outfielder Hack Wilson, irked at the bench jockeying by Cincinnati Reds pitcher Ray Kolp, jumped into the Cincinnati dugout, seeking to punch his tormentor.
    Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 4 July 2025
  • No other cast is listed, but the show’s 2014 iteration was loaded with guest stars, including Seth Rogen (as himself, playing Valerie’s former tormentor, Paulie G.) and Malin Åkerman, appearing as her character from Season 1.
    Kate Aurthur, Variety, 27 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Tease.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tease. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.

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