Thesaurus: tantalize

Related headwords

Definitions

1. v. t. 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.
2. v. harass with persistent criticism or carping
3. 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. Thy vain desires, at strife Within themselves, have tantalized thy life. Dryden. Syn. -- To tease; vex; irritate; provoke. -- 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.
4. To tease or torment by presenting some good to the view andexciting desire, but continually frustrating the expectations bykeeping that good out of reach; to tease; to torment.Thy vain desires, at strife Within themselves, have tantalized thylife. Dryden.
5. v:100 v harass with persistent criticism or carping