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 Words From

• teas·ing·ly 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

Clearing his throat, Danson chimes in, at once teasing and sincere: “What I heard was the 50-and-under takeaway. I would like to add for the older folks: Keep your foot on the gas pedal. Live! This is your life until it ain’t. Go for it.”

From Los Angeles Times

How was it like teasing out that scene?

From Los Angeles Times

Fans speculated the post was teasing the band’s scrapped album “The Paper Kingdom.”

From Los Angeles Times

Earlier this summer, Netflix began teasing that it had landed a documentary about Martha Stewart which promised to offer a wholly unique look at the domestic mogul who is known for her carefully curated image.

From Salon

Rather, Bannon, through his own media empire, pulls different strains of the far right together, teasing out and connecting their similar passions and paranoias.

From Slate

Related Words

• irritating
• joking
• mocking