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

Any of these theories may be outlandish, but possibly not as crazy as whatever the reality may turn out to be, assuming the tease is real. — Chris Willman, Variety, 29 May 2026 It’s been 28 years since their last appearance, but the older fans remember the feeling of heady optimism, an occasional tease of excitement and then crushing disappointment. — Ben Church, CNN Money, 19 June 2026

Verb

William’s appearance had been teased on social media on Thursday and revealed Friday on Instagram. — Kimberly Nordyke, HollywoodReporter, 3 July 2026 After teasing us for a while, Volvo finally showed off the EX30 for real in 2023. — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for tease

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tease

Noun

Alongside the release date announcement, a new teaser shows intense footage of Ali training with the goal of becoming the youngest heavyweight champion in boxing.

— Tanya Fedak, Variety, 6 July 2026
Crossword puzzles and brain teasers have long been touted as ways to keep the mind sharp.

— Allison Aubrey, NPR, 6 July 2026

Definition of teaser

Noun

And to add insult to social and cultural injury, the new policies also present a logistical nuisance.

— Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 30 June 2026
In New York, night clubs were sometimes regarded as a civic nuisance; one obstacle was the city’s cabaret law, from 1926, which required bars to obtain a special permit if patrons were dancing and was not fully repealed until 2017.

— Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 29 June 2026

Definition of nuisance

Verb

Steak 'n Shake announced its month-long Liberty Meal deal to celebrate America's 250th birthday — and used the occasion to taunt a competitor.

— Teresa Mull, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026
In the Chicago area, officials said three men captured a victim and shot him multiple times in the head and allegedly taunted his mother.

— Luke Barr, ABC News, 1 July 2026

Definition of taunt

Noun

For players and coaches, the break in play might feel like an annoyance when the temperatures do not seem to demand extra hydration, but what are the physical implications of stopping midway through each half?

— Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 5 July 2026
Everyday annoyances add up fast, but fixing them doesn’t have to break the bank.

— Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 July 2026

Definition of annoyance

Verb

If there was any skepticism due to the level of competition Moss faced in college, don’t kid yourself.

— Bruce Feldman, New York Times, 25 June 2026
Just kidding, but seeing Angela’s team sweep Shamea’s at the Bailey Bowl basketball tournament was almost as satisfying as knowing Charles got to witness his former team’s historic win in person.

— Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 22 June 2026

Definition of kid

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 7 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of tease

noun

verb

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