tantalizing

[tan-tl-ahy-zing]

adjective

1. having or exhibiting something that provokes or arouses expectation, interest, or desire, especially that which remains unobtainable or beyond one's reach.

   a tantalizing taste of success.

Other Word Forms

• tantalizingly adverb
• untantalizing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of tantalizing¹

First recorded in 1650–60; tantalize + -ing ²

Related Words

• alluring