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.

The comeback tour was the significant milestone fans had been waiting for since their dramatic split in 2009, after years of teasing a possible reunion.

From BBC • May 8, 2026

No club in English soccer had better perfected the art of teasing its fans with the promise of success, only to fall apart when it mattered most.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 6, 2026

After teasing her new album out next month, she showed a clip of a commercial she did for Old Navy and mentioned working with Jake Paul on the Disney Channel show “Bizaardvark.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 3, 2026

Tlaib loosened the room immediately, teasing her teenage niece, calling her “the future” while the girl shrank in embarrassment.

From Slate • Apr. 29, 2026

Twenty brains started turning that question into a big juicy teasing.

From "Ida B" by Katherine Hannigan

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