What does "tease" mean?
One who teases.
Tease
/tiːz/ noun, verb, slang
noun, verb, slang ·Very common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: One who teases.
- Grammar: tease is listed as noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: coquette, flirt, ribbing, actor.
- Useful contrasts: comb out, complete disclosure, earnestness.
- Usage evidence: The difference between teasing and taunting is like the difference between kissing and spitting. The ingredients are the same; it is the emotion that determines whether it is pleasing or repellent.... Proper teasing says, in effect, "I know all your little oddities and faults, but as they are part of what makes you special, I find them charming." Taunting, in contrast, makes only the harsh statement, "I have noticed what is wrong with you."
How to use "tease"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "tease" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "tease" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "tease" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "tease" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "tease" is acting as noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "coquette" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "tease", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 One who teases.
- 2 the act of harassing someone playfully or maliciously (especially by ridicule); provoking someone with persistent annoyances wordnet
- 3 A single act of teasing.
- 4 a seductive woman who uses her sex appeal to exploit men wordnet
- 5 One who deliberately arouses others (usually men) sexually with no intention of satisfying that arousal.
Show 1 more definition
- 6 someone given to teasing (as by mocking or stirring curiosity) wordnet
Verb
- 1 To separate the fibres of (a fibrous material). transitive
- 2 ruffle (one's hair) by combing the ends towards the scalp, for a full effect wordnet
- 3 To comb (originally with teasels) so that the fibres all lie in one direction. transitive
- 4 harass with persistent criticism or carping wordnet
- 5 To backcomb. transitive
Show 13 more definitions
- 6 mock or make fun of playfully wordnet
- 7 To poke fun at, either cruelly or affectionately in a playful way. transitive
"The difference between teasing and taunting is like the difference between kissing and spitting. The ingredients are the same; it is the emotion that determines whether it is pleasing or repellent.... Proper teasing says, in effect, "I know all your little oddities and faults, but as they are part of what makes you special, I find them charming." Taunting, in contrast, makes only the harsh statement, "I have noticed what is wrong with you.""
- 8 separate the fibers of wordnet
- 9 To provoke or disturb; to annoy. transitive
"Not by the force of carnal reason, / But indefatigable teasing."
- 10 disentangle and raise the fibers of wordnet
- 11 To manipulate or influence the behavior of, especially by repeated acts of irritation. transitive
"A young woman, if she fall into bad hands, may be teazed, and kept at a distance from those she wants to be with; but one cannot comprehend a young man’s being under such restraint, as not to be able to spend a week with his father, if he likes it."
- 12 raise the nap of (fabrics) wordnet
- 13 To entice, tempt. transitive
"[H]ere comes my Helpmate!—She appears in great good humour——how happy I should be if I could teaze her into loving me tho' but a little——"
- 14 tear into pieces wordnet
- 15 To deliberately arouse someone sexually with no intention of satisfying that arousal. transitive
"My favorite fantasy is being tied down and teased and teased."
- 16 annoy persistently wordnet
- 17 To show as forthcoming, in the manner of a teaser. informal, transitive
"a less interesting character here than in the previous two films, Caesar glowers through the movie, as though aware that he has been condemned to a script that is rushing to clear the stage for the straightforward Planet Of The Apes remake first teased in Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes."
- 18 to arouse hope, desire, or curiosity without satisfying them wordnet
Antonyms
Example
"The difference between teasing and taunting is like the difference between kissing and spitting. The ingredients are the same; it is the emotion that determines whether it is pleasing or repellent.... Proper teasing says, in effect, "I know all your little oddities and faults, but as they are part of what makes you special, I find them charming." Taunting, in contrast, makes only the harsh statement, "I have noticed what is wrong with you.""
Common questions
What is a synonym for "tease"?
Common synonyms include: coquette, flirt, ribbing, actor, aggravate, annoy.
How do you use "tease" in a sentence?
The difference between teasing and taunting is like the difference between kissing and spitting. The ingredients are the same; it is the emotion that determines whether it is pleasing or repellent.... Proper teasing says, in effect, "I know all your little oddities and faults, but as they are part of what makes you special, I find them charming." Taunting, in contrast, makes only the harsh statement, "I have noticed what is wrong with you."
How do you pronounce "tease"?
Pronounced /tiːz/.
Etymology
From Middle English tesen, from Old English tǣsan (“to tease”), from Proto-West Germanic *taisijan (“to separate, tug, shred”).