Tantalize

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Tantalize \Tan"ta*lize\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Tantalized}; p.
     pr. & vb. n. {Tantalizing}.] [From {Tantalus}: cf. F.
     tantaliser.]
     To tease or torment by presenting some good to the view and
     exciting desire, but continually frustrating the expectations
     by keeping that good out of reach; to tease; to torment.


     [1913 Webster]
  
           Thy vain desires, at strife
           Within themselves, have tantalized thy life. --Dryden.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Syn: To tease; vex; irritate; provoke.
  
     Usage: {Tantalize}, {Disappoint}. To disappoint is literally
            to do away with what was (or was taken to be)
            appointed; hence the peculiar pain from hopes thus
            dashed to the ground. To tantalize, a much stronger
            term, describes a most distressing form of
            disappointment, as in the case of Tantalus, the
            Phrygian king. To tantalize is to visit with the
            bitterest disappointment -- to torment by exciting
            hopes or expectations which can never be realized.
            [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  tantalize
       v : harass with persistent criticism or carping; "The children
           teased the new teacher"; "Don't ride me so hard over my
           failure"; "His fellow workers razzed him when he wore a
           jacket and tie" [syn: {tease}, {razz}, {rag}, {cod}, {tantalise},
            {bait}, {taunt}, {twit}, {rally}, {ride}]

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  66 Moby Thesaurus words for "tantalize":
     affect the interest, allure, annoy, appeal, attract, badger,
     baffle, bait, balk, be attractive, becharm, beckon, bedevil,
     beleaguer, bewitch, bilk, captivate, carry away, cast down, charm,
     concern, cross, dash, defeat, defeat expectation, disappoint,
     disillusion, dissatisfy, draw on, enamor, endear, engage,
     enrapture, excite, excite interest, fascinate, fetch, foil,
     frustrate, gnaw, harass, harry, hold in thrall, infatuate,
     inflame with love, interest, invite, involve in, let down, pester,
     pique, plague, provoke, seduce, stimulate, summon, taunt, tease,
     tempt, thwart, tickle, titillate, torment, torture, vamp,
     whet the appetite