tantalizing

[ 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.

QUIZZES

Discover The Influence Of Portuguese On English Via This Quiz!

We’ve gathered some interesting words donated to English from Portuguese … as well as some that just don’t translate at all. Do you know what they mean?

Question 1 of 11

Which of the following animal names traces its immediate origin to Portuguese?

owl

crow

piranha

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Words nearby tantalizing

tantalate, tantalic, tantalic acid, tantalite, tantalize, tantalizing, tantalous, tantalum, tantalus, tantalus monkey, tantamount

Origin of tantalizing

First recorded in 1650–60; tantalize + -ing²

OTHER WORDS FROM tantalizing

tan·ta·liz·ing·ly, adverbun·tan·ta·liz·ing, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH tantalizing

tantalizing titillating

Example sentences from the Web for tantalizingly

The White-Haired Man (James Morrison), so tantalizingly creepy in his appearance last season, was felled pretty quickly.
‘Revenge’: What Went Wrong with ABC’s Once-Daring Thriller?|Jace Lacob|March 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST
After months of debate, lawmakers seeking to pass health-care reform are tantalizingly close to the goal line.
The Democrats' Doomsday Health Plans|Benjamin Sarlin|January 20, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Rich in mythology and character development, and tantalizingly complex, Lost is not something to be watched passively.
The Lost Season|Allyssa Lee|September 15, 2009|DAILY BEAST
Betty was still hungry, and the thought of slices of home-made bread and golden country butter smote her tantalizingly.
Betty Gordon at Bramble Farm|Alice B. Emerson

He produced the letter from his pocket, poising it tantalizingly between his fingers.
The Substitute Prisoner|Max Marcin
Life is joyous and near, terribly, tantalizingly near,—but all is silent and dead around me.
Prison Memoirs of an Anarchist|Alexander Berkman
Tantalizingly she dangled the purse under his nose as he brought her absinthe—always this opalescent absinthe.
Visionaries|James Huneker
A band of caribou passed by, twenty and odd animals, tantalizingly within rifle range.
Love of Life|Jack London