tantalizing 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of tantalizingnext
as in tempting
having a strong power to provoke or hold interest The menu included a selection of tantalizing desserts.

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

tantalizing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of tantalize
as in intriguing
to cause (someone) to feel interest or excitement about something that is very attractive, appealing, etc. She was tantalized by the possibility of earning a lot of money quickly.

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of tantalizing
Adjective
For now, this is an intriguing proof of concept, a tantalizing glimpse of what electric mobility might look like someday, and a technology wrapped in enough engineering jargon to make the average driver’s eyes glaze over. — New Atlas, 18 Oct. 2026 Now that Fox is getting back up above the rim in a way rarely seen last season, this lineup’s potential is even more tantalizing. — Jared Weiss, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Verb
New blood tests that might predict Alzheimer’s years before symptoms begin may sound tantalizing for people who worry about later-in-life dementia. — Lauran Neergaard, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026 For a tennis tournament, that tantalizing market of maybe-future customers means people who do not currently know or care all that much about tennis. — Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tantalizing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tantalizing
  1. tempting
  2. intriguing
  3. thrilling
  4. exciting
Adjective
  • The look keeps popping up on social media, and the pitch is tempting.
    — Ashley Lynch, Miami Herald, 21 Oct. 2026
  • And while a blue ribbon sewn into a wedding dress might satisfy the superstition, a sapphire or aquamarine is considerably more tempting.
    — Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of tempting
Verb
  • The female forward is in front of the camera, behind the camera, really getting women, intriguing them to come to the service and watch.
    — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 17 Aug. 2026
  • The first four episodes made available for review likewise have tiny sparks of interest, from some witty dialogue to genuine plot momentum to intriguing new characters popping up.
    — Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 21 June 2026
Definition of intriguing
Verb
  • Slumps and funks come for everyone, and a five-foot-nine right fielder for the Brewers named Sal Frelick might launch a home run in Game Two of the World Series to cap off a thrilling late-game comeback.
    — Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Joseph Paintsil scored his first two goals since August as the Galaxy hung on impressively for a point, but endangered their own playoff hopes by blowing the lead in another thrilling El Tráfico derby.
    — Greg Beacham, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of thrilling
Verb
  • Major Wilson, 17, has been around horses most of his life and now spends much of his time helping younger riders get ready, showing them how to saddle their horses without exciting them.
    — Jhair Romero, Houston Chronicle, 26 Feb. 2026
  • For Harrington and her husband Dante, the thought of triplets was shocking but exciting all the same.
    — Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Nov. 2025
Definition of exciting

Browse Nearby Words

tantalizes
tantalizing
tantamount
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tantalizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tantalizing. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of shindig

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All