teasing

American  

[tee-zing] / ˈti zɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of persistently annoying someone, especially playfully and with silly jokes about them.

   Most holidays, we all manage to squeeze in at Grandma’s and enjoy a crazy day full of laughter, teasing, eating, and sharing.

2. the act of bullying, harassing, or tormenting someone.

   Many students with learning disabilities suffer the frustration of low achievement and the teasing and poor self-image that come with it.

3. the act of purposely exciting, tantalizing, or sexually arousing someone without providing subsequent gratification.

   She smiled over her shoulder at him, brown eyes shiny with teasing.

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adjective

1. harassing, tantalizing, or playfully annoying someone in any of these ways.

   In answer to my eager question, they shrugged a teasing “maybe.”

   Lisa turns 20 next month and her mother is already sending her teasing texts featuring grandma emojis.

Other Word Forms

• teasingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of teasing

First recorded in 1585–95; teas(e) ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. ) for the noun senses; teas(e) ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. ) for the adjective sense

Example Sentences

Relaxed, joking and enjoying teasing his rivals, Verstappen has a chance to complete a remarkable run with a spectacular title triumph.

From Barron's

Competition is heating up among global tech giants over the future of aerial mobility, with Tesla CEO Elon Musk teasing the debut of a flying car prototype within weeks.

From Barron's

Trying to determine who among the applicants had “good moral character” without knowing their families made teasing out the best candidates even trickier.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Jeffrey likes pillows too much. It’s getting a little busy in here,” he adds, teasing his partner.

From Los Angeles Times

While there, he became a target for bullies and teasing due to his long hair and accent.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• irritating
• joking
• mocking