1
as in teasers
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in nuisances
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
1
as in jokes
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
2
as in taunts
to attack repeatedly with mean put-downs or insults
grew up being teased because his parents were hog farmers
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 teases
Dominick Mastrangelo, The Hill, 11 Mar. 2026
Rashada’s recruitment played out in cryptic Twitter teases from a booster, Hugh Hathcock, and behind the scenes in text messages with eyeball emojis.
—Matt Baker, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2026
As winter lingers and spring teases, Stewart reveals how home gardeners can make the most of this in-between moment.
—Maddie Topliff, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Feb. 2026
The vehicle, as tends to be the case with teases like this, is covered in a camouflage wrap, its still possible to make out some intriguing details.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 27 Jan. 2026
Much like Zayn, there had, at times, been teases that Orton would be involved in the WWE title scene come WrestleMania 42.
—Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 25 Jan. 2026
While this time around things went a bit smoother, the Step Up actress teases that, still, plenty of chaos will ensue.
—Liza Esquibias, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026
The season-two footage that’s been released teases its languid pace and warm, inviting environments all over again — much of season one was spent tracking Frieren’s slow gait through the natural world — punctuated by moments of magical action.
—Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 1 Jan. 2026
A bit of mystery from one of Hollywood's greatest entertainers is something to be cherished, of course, and the first trailer teases without giving much away.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 31 Dec. 2025
Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Mar. 2026
The trailer then shows Hagrid explaining the Wizarding World to Harry and teases some information about his deceased parents.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 25 Mar. 2026
The trailer teases a few of those moments, including one with Cyrus and her mom Tish Cyrus-Purcell sitting in Hannah Montana's iconic closet.
—Angeline Jane Bernabe, ABC News, 17 Mar. 2026
Dunkin' teases more ways to celebrate are coming later this month.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 4 Mar. 2026
But beyond Murphy and Graham, the trailer only teases Sophie Rundle as Tommy’s long-suffering sister, Ada, but no other regulars.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 19 Feb. 2026
The rest of the footage keeps the film's plot fairly vague but teases Din coming up against the Hutts, with the vile gangsters threatening to inflict suffering on Grogu.
—Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 17 Feb. 2026
In the docuseries, Banks teases bringing back the show.
—Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 17 Feb. 2026
There’s Manny, Zitzs and EZ, who has a way with the girls; Izzy, an abused boy who hides his family’s secrets, and Gloria, as good at sports as the boys and so fierce nobody teases her little sister about her stutter.
—Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 15 Feb. 2026
Noun
Abby is reading these teases after wrangling a feisty debate for 10 minutes.
—Dominick Mastrangelo, The Hill, 11 Mar. 2026
Rashada’s recruitment played out in cryptic Twitter teases from a booster, Hugh Hathcock, and behind the scenes in text messages with eyeball emojis.
—Matt Baker, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2026
As winter lingers and spring teases, Stewart reveals how home gardeners can make the most of this in-between moment.
—Maddie Topliff, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Feb. 2026
The vehicle, as tends to be the case with teases like this, is covered in a camouflage wrap, its still possible to make out some intriguing details.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 27 Jan. 2026
Much like Zayn, there had, at times, been teases that Orton would be involved in the WWE title scene come WrestleMania 42.
—Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 25 Jan. 2026
While this time around things went a bit smoother, the Step Up actress teases that, still, plenty of chaos will ensue.
—Liza Esquibias, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026
The season-two footage that’s been released teases its languid pace and warm, inviting environments all over again — much of season one was spent tracking Frieren’s slow gait through the natural world — punctuated by moments of magical action.
—Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 1 Jan. 2026
A bit of mystery from one of Hollywood's greatest entertainers is something to be cherished, of course, and the first trailer teases without giving much away.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 31 Dec. 2025
Verb
Gillespie teases another scene in the film involving Corenswet's character and the arrival of Supergirl on Earth.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Mar. 2026
The trailer then shows Hagrid explaining the Wizarding World to Harry and teases some information about his deceased parents.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 25 Mar. 2026
The trailer teases a few of those moments, including one with Cyrus and her mom Tish Cyrus-Purcell sitting in Hannah Montana's iconic closet.
—Angeline Jane Bernabe, ABC News, 17 Mar. 2026
Dunkin' teases more ways to celebrate are coming later this month.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 4 Mar. 2026
But beyond Murphy and Graham, the trailer only teases Sophie Rundle as Tommy’s long-suffering sister, Ada, but no other regulars.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 19 Feb. 2026
The rest of the footage keeps the film's plot fairly vague but teases Din coming up against the Hutts, with the vile gangsters threatening to inflict suffering on Grogu.
—Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 17 Feb. 2026
In the docuseries, Banks teases bringing back the show.
—Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 17 Feb. 2026
There’s Manny, Zitzs and EZ, who has a way with the girls; Izzy, an abused boy who hides his family’s secrets, and Gloria, as good at sports as the boys and so fierce nobody teases her little sister about her stutter.
—Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 15 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for teases
Noun
-
Buzz has been building for SNL UK all week and teasers will be dropping through the week as Sky builds hype for the show, which kicks off with a six-episode order.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
18 Mar. 2026
-
No additional details have been announced — no release window, no single teasers, no collaborator announcements — which suggests the project may still be in its formative stages.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The end of the hibernation period in spring brings new bat movement, which means more nuisances for homes with roosts.—
Caden Perry,
jsonline.com,
24 Mar. 2026
-
The Florida law shields shooting ranges, specifically, from being sued as nuisances.—
Christopher Spata,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The comedian jokes to laughter and applause before asking if anyone in the room is a lawyer.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Bridges jokes that her staff are more nervous about a drop-by visit from her than from state inspectors.—
Katie Langford,
Denver Post,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
So much for Anthropic's Super Bowl taunts.—
Alexei Oreskovic,
Fortune,
10 Feb. 2026
-
In a 30-second clip, Adams is seen leaving a jet bridge while a woman who is walking ahead of him seemingly taunts Adams.—
Marley Malenfant,
Austin American Statesman,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Of course, that conservative approach is often wrecked by QB harassers such as Lawrence and Williams, part of a defense that ranked seventh in the NFL in sacks.—
Eric Branch,
San Francisco Chronicle,
17 Jan. 2026
-
Moreover, when harassers disproportionately target women, people of color and LGBTQ officials, entire communities are systematically excluded from participation in self-governance.—
Ernestine Nettles,
Mercury News,
22 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
As previously mentioned, Meevee targets a preschool audience — specifically kids two to six — pretty much the only ages parents can (and should) be in sole control of their children’s screen time anyway.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Ziegler most recently served as senior vice president and general merchandise manager at Saks Global overseeing multiple women’s and kids categories for Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus.—
David Moin,
Footwear News,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Generally speaking, Normand playfully mocks all sorts of different groups rather equally.—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Its leader, the president, abuses power, hurts the innocent, and mocks the dead before their families have even begun to grieve.—
Peter Wehner,
The Atlantic,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
His torturers shattered his hands and paraded him around the stadium, taunting him to try to play his guitar.—
Christina Hioureas,
Rolling Stone,
22 Mar. 2026
-
The prisoners got out and the saw the torturers.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Teases.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/teases. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
