tantalizing

1 of 2

adjective

tan·​ta·​liz·​ing ˈtan-tə-ˌlī-ziŋ How to pronounce tantalizing (audio)
Synonyms of tantalizing
: possessing a quality that arouses or stimulates desire or interest
also : mockingly or teasingly out of reach
tantalizingly adverb

tantalizing

2 of 2

present participle of tantalize

Examples of tantalizing in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
The ads were a tantalizing list of album titles — in the old days, a stack of 8-tracks with the names on the spine. — Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 19 Aug. 2026 But the most tantalizing capability the new barcodes can unlock is the ability to radically change the way America performs food safety. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026 Burlington Central’s Tobi Oduwa entered high school as a raw prospect with tantalizing physical abilities. — Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026 Future James Bond collaborations between the brands remain a tantalizing possibility. — Carol Besler, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tantalizing

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

from present participle of tantalize

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1683, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tantalizing was circa 1683

Rhymes for tantalizing

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Browse Nearby Words

tantalizer
tantalizing
tantalizingly
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Cite this Entry

“Tantalizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tantalizing. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for tantalizing

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