Synonyms

teasing

American

[tee-zing] / ˈti zɪŋ /

noun

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.
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.
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

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

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He also has a knack for teasing out some of Starr’s best performances in years.

From Salon • Apr. 24, 2026

Still, Caldwell said that teasing out the impact of the PCE-CPI gap isn’t as simple as swapping one for the other over a particular period.

From Barron's • Apr. 22, 2026

The star has been teasing the plan since 2023, and on Monday she cleared her Instagram and changed her biography to one of Hung Up's lyrics: "Time goes by so slowly."

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

Argus Research analyst Joseph Bonner told MarketWatch that investors were searching for bargains on Monday, and added that investors may be teasing out which companies may benefit from Anthropic’s Mythos.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 13, 2026

“I’m afraid Alter already has a commitment tonight,” a teasing voice said from behind us.

From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros

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