teasing

[tee-zing]

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.

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of teasing¹

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

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.

Read more on 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.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“We’re just teasing you, nephew. Here, take this. We wear white for celebrations.”

Read more on Literature

Lady Constance endured the teasing with a frozen smile.

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There was a teasing twinkle in Miss Mortimer’s eye, but she was intent on securing Penelope’s sworn promise.

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Related Words

• irritating 
• joking 
• mocking