Tantalize Definition

tăntə-līz

tantalized, tantalizes, tantalizing

verb

tantalized, tantalizes, tantalizing

To tease or excite by promising or showing something desirable and then withholding it.

Webster's New World

To be strongly attractive to; excite the senses or desire of.

The aroma coming from the bakery tantalized us.

American Heritage

To tease (someone) by offering something desirable but keeping it out of reach.

Wiktionary

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Origin of Tantalize

From Tantalus (Τάνταλος) 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.

From Wiktionary
From Latin Tantalus Tantalus Tantalus

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition