Synonyms

tantalizing

American

[tan-tl-ahy-zing] / ˈtæn tlˌaɪ zɪŋ /

adjective

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

Etymology

Origin of tantalizing

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

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.

And yet the prospect of using origami to improve existing technologies is, for some, tantalizing.

From BBC • Mar. 3, 2026

A journey into the wilderness of 18th-century Canada starts with a tantalizing mineral sample brought back to an English outpost.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026

They’re inspiring and tantalizing, each salad photo a beautiful showcase of visual media at its finest.

From Salon • Feb. 7, 2026

Venezuela’s oil has long been tantalizing —and problematic.

From Barron's • Jan. 7, 2026

The one thing that kept her polite and attentive to Mrs. Coulter was that tantalizing hope of going north.

From "The Golden Compass" by Philip Pullman

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023