tantalize

To tantalize is defined as to tease someone by showing them something which is desirable and then not providing it.

(verb)

An example of tantalize is to let a person smell chili, but not provide any chili to eat.

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See tantalize in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb tantalized, tantalizing

to tease or disappoint by promising or showing something desirable and then withholding it

Origin: < Tantalus + -ize

Related Forms:

See tantalize in American Heritage Dictionary 4

transitive verb tan·ta·lized, tan·ta·liz·ing, tan·ta·liz·es
To excite (another) by exposing something desirable while keeping it out of reach.

Origin:

Origin: From Latin Tantalus, Tantalus; see Tantalus

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Related Forms:

  • tanˌta·li·zaˈtion (-lĭ-zāˈshən) noun
  • tanˈta·lizˌer noun
  • tanˈta·lizˌing·ly adverb

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