TEASE Synonyms: 166 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'tease' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of tease are annoy , harass , harry , pester , plague , and worry . While all these words mean "to disturb or irritate by persistent acts," tease suggests an attempt to break down one's resistance or rouse to wrath. // children teased the dog

Q: In what contexts can 'annoy' take the place of 'tease'?

While in some cases nearly identical to tease , annoy implies disturbing one's composure or peace of mind by intrusion, interference, or petty attacks. // you're doing that just to annoy me

Q: When would 'harass' be a good substitute for 'tease'?

In some situations, the words harass and tease are roughly equivalent. However, harass implies petty persecutions or burdensome demands that exhaust one's nervous or mental power. // harassed on all sides by creditors

Q: When can 'harry' be used instead of 'tease'?

Although the words harry and tease have much in common, harry may imply heavy oppression or maltreatment. // the strikers had been harried by thugs

Q: Where would 'pester' be a reasonable alternative to 'tease'?

The synonyms pester and tease are sometimes interchangeable, but pester stresses the repetition of petty attacks. // constantly pestered with trivial complaints

Q: When might 'plague' be a better fit than 'tease'?

The words plague and tease can be used in similar contexts, but plague implies a painful and persistent affliction. // plagued all her life by poverty

Q: When is it sensible to use 'worry' instead of 'tease'?

The words worry and tease are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, worry implies an incessant goading or attacking that drives one to desperation. // pursued a policy of worrying the enemy

tease 1 of 2

noun

Definition of tease

as in teaser

a person who causes repeated emotional pain, distress, or annoyance to another she can be a very cruel tease when she happens upon an unpopular girl who is easily hurt

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in nuisance

one who is obnoxiously annoying my youngest brother is a complete tease, following me around everywhere and aping my every move

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

tease

2 of 2

verb

ˈtēz

as in to joke

to make fun of in a good-natured way likes to tease her twin brother about his seemingly endless string of girlfriends

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to taunt

to attack repeatedly with mean put-downs or insults grew up being teased because his parents were hog farmers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb tease contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of tease are annoy, harass, harry, pester, plague, and worry. While all these words mean "to disturb or irritate by persistent acts," tease suggests an attempt to break down one's resistance or rouse to wrath.

children teased the dog

In what contexts can annoy take the place of tease?

While in some cases nearly identical to tease, annoy implies disturbing one's composure or peace of mind by intrusion, interference, or petty attacks.

you're doing that just to annoy me

When would harass be a good substitute for tease?

In some situations, the words harass and tease are roughly equivalent. However, harass implies petty persecutions or burdensome demands that exhaust one's nervous or mental power.

harassed on all sides by creditors

When can harry be used instead of tease?

Although the words harry and tease have much in common, harry may imply heavy oppression or maltreatment.

the strikers had been harried by thugs

Where would pester be a reasonable alternative to tease?

The synonyms pester and tease are sometimes interchangeable, but pester stresses the repetition of petty attacks.

constantly pestered with trivial complaints

When might plague be a better fit than tease?

The words plague and tease can be used in similar contexts, but plague implies a painful and persistent affliction.

plagued all her life by poverty

When is it sensible to use worry instead of tease?

The words worry and tease are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, worry implies an incessant goading or attacking that drives one to desperation.

pursued a policy of worrying the enemy

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 tease

Noun

The clip gave fans no further details about the potential release, but the tease was enough to rally pop music fans. — Alicia Urrea, Billboard, 12 Oct. 2026 Even though the chat took place at the Javits Center, where New York Comic Con will be held over the next few days, the point of the session was not plot teases or fan service. — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026

Verb

Inez, our colleague, teases me with all of the wonderful descriptions of the Wisconsin State Fair. — Emily Elias, Bon Appetit Magazine, 19 Oct. 2026 Tremble’s taunt after his second TD was already coming in for teasing by his teammates postgame, as running back Chuba Hubbard (120 rushing yards, one TD) pretended to be a reporter and asked Tremble about it. — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 18 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tease

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tease

Noun

In keeping with the spooky vibe of their eponymous 2009 debut LP, the brief teaser video has a distinctly Halloween-appropriate air.

— Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 23 Oct. 2026
After a Wicker teaser dropped in August, the internet instantly got hot and bothered over this attractive man made from wicker.

— Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of teaser

Verb

More recently, Vega helped fund Diego Marcon’s Krapfen (2025), a film in which a child is taunted by invisible beings that sing and dance.

— Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 22 Oct. 2026
The woman, who also reported it to the league, alleged that Jackson refused to delete the video and taunted her with it.

— Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of taunt

Noun

Parton’s ability to become the harasser without falling into some version of male drag makes this short sequence far superior to the many films with a similar premise that followed.

— Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
White stars can help by publicly supporting their Black colleagues, who are especially targeted by online trolls and harassers.

— Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of harasser

Noun

The Serbian leader had long been seen as an unpredictable annoyance, and his balancing act wasn’t particularly subtle.

— Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 27 Oct. 2026
This, Barbera said, can be a programming annoyance as well as a knock on an otherwise good film.

— Jake Coyle, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of annoyance

Noun

Red is immediately abducted, cut open in an ambulance, and injected with pain-magnifying drugs by his torturers, while Liz accidentally murders the mysterious man surveilling her next door.

— EW Staff, Entertainment Weekly, 25 June 2026
Aaron escapes his torturers, first by rooting himself in the town’s only movie theater open to Black people, and then by lying about his age and enlisting in the Navy at 16.

— Meredith Maran, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026

Definition of torturer

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“Tease.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tease. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of tease

noun

verb

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