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

Even in the age of algorithms, short attention spans and TikTok teases, Warren Buffett continued to profit with his patient bargain-hunting approach while offering folksy advice on investing and life. — Josh Funk, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2026 Aside from stray showers, most of Tuesday teases with sunny skies and drier air. — Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2026

Verb

The trailer teases just how far The New Stanford Prison Experiment participants will go when given power. — Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2026 Another style teased by Anderson on social media was a T-strap sandal with a vertical strap of gold letters reading Dior. — Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tease

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tease

Noun

Fox has released four new teaser promos for its upcoming Baywatch reboot.

— Denise Petski, Deadline, 2 Oct. 2026
In a new teaser for the episode, Johnson runs through the usual introduction before things quickly spiral into increasingly strange territory alongside SNL cast member Ashley Padilla.

— Alicia Urrea, Billboard, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of teaser

Noun

For homeowners who have spent decades building equity, failing windows are more than a nuisance.

— Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2026
Legal experts on the other side question the notion that a public nuisance can be defined so broadly to include both the sale of a legal product and the impact on carbon pollution, much of it coming from China and India.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of nuisance

Verb

After jawing with Oregon players, the junior linebacker was seen taunting the Oregon sideline and celebrating on his way back to USC’s side of the field.

— Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026
Afroman went on to publish songs and music videos taunting the deputies, including one called Lemon Pound Cake that mocked the portly deputy for his apparent interest in the cake.

— Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 22 Sep. 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 third season sees Ranma and fiancée Akane have to deal with old annoyances, new dangers, and even more shenanigans.

— K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 2 Oct. 2026
While some experts cite the threat of civilian drones being equipped to deliver explosives or chemical or biological agents, authorities and defense executives say the more common risk is annoyance and interruption.

— Jason Gewirtz, CNBC, 27 Sep. 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 9 Oct. 2026.

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noun

verb

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