tantalize
To tease by offering or showing them something desirable but leaving them unsatisfiedTo tease (someone) by offering or showing them something desirable but leaving them unsatisfied.
» It was a tantalizing thought.
CK · Tatoeba · CC BY 2.0 FRMeaning
2 senses(transitive)To tease (someone) by offering or showing them something desirable but leaving them unsatisfied.
прима́ниватьprimánivatʹ, манитьmanitʹ
вабитиvabyty, спокушатиspokušaty, манитиmanyty
(intransitive, obsolete)To be teased by something desirable that is kept out of reach.
- harass with persistent criticism or carping
Examples
8 sentencesIt was a tantalizing thought.
Don't tantalize me.
He took some rather tantalizing photos.
Make those images of the dishes as tantalizing as possible.
It's a tantalizing thought.
Translations
6 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 1
Origin
From Tantalus (Ancient Greek Τάνταλος (Tántalos)) in Greek mythology, who was condemned toFrom Tantalus (Ancient Greek Τάνταλος (Tántalos)) in Greek mythology, who was condemned to Tartarus in the underworld. There, he had to stand for eternity in water that receded from him when he stooped to drink, beneath fruit trees whose branches were always out of reach. Derived as Tantalus + -ize.
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
tantalizes, tantalizing, tantalized, tantalized| Base form | tantalize · to tantalize |
|---|---|
| 3rd person singular | tantalizes |
| Present participle | tantalizing |
| Past simple | tantalized |
| Past participle | tantalized |
regular · Lesson
Synonyms
10 synonymsWord family
3 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle
See also
neighbours in the dictionaryDictionary text adapted from Wiktionary (Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0) and Open English WordNet / Princeton WordNet (CC BY 4.0, WordNet License); shared under CC BY-SA 4.0. Example sentences and recordings are credited where they appear.