as in to intrigue
to cause (someone) to feel interest or excitement about something that is very attractive, appealing, etc.
She was tantalized by the possibility of earning a lot of money quickly.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 tantalize
This evidence for the presence of liquid water on the ancient body from which Bennu formed provides a tantalizing possibility: the possibility that Bennu’s progenitor may have seen the first stirrings of life.
—
Tom Hawking, Popular Science, 29 Jan. 2025
Each hour ends with a new cliffhanger, but none are as effective as the premiere twist — and most are more frustrating than tantalizing.
—Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 24 Jan. 2025
Dynamic Culinary Scene The city’s vibrant and rapidly rising culinary scene serves to tantalize taste buds.
—Roger Sands, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025
All of those questions are certainly tantalizing, but the core mystery of the series is in the title: severance.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 15 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for tantalize 
Tom Hawking, Popular Science, 29 Jan. 2025
Each hour ends with a new cliffhanger, but none are as effective as the premiere twist — and most are more frustrating than tantalizing.
—Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 24 Jan. 2025
Dynamic Culinary Scene The city’s vibrant and rapidly rising culinary scene serves to tantalize taste buds.
—Roger Sands, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025
All of those questions are certainly tantalizing, but the core mystery of the series is in the title: severance.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 15 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for tantalize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tantalize
Verb
-
Trump first got intrigued with Atlantic City in the late 1970s, after gambling became legal and casinos reported $134 million of citywide revenue in their first year.—
Dan Alexander,
Forbes,
8 Feb. 2025
-
The Mets have been intrigued by the possibility of his velocity in a relief role, but valued the starting pitching depth in the past.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
8 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Research published in Experimental & Molecular Medicine shows that the mesolimbic dopamine system is excited by both rewarding and stressful stimuli.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes,
18 Feb. 2025
-
And for me, ‘G.I. Jane’ was definitely one of those that excited me, challenged me emotionally, but certainly physically.—
Anne Thompson,
IndieWire,
14 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Social scientists studying criminal rehabilitation were thrilled that addict prisoners could be transferred out of overcrowded prisons.—
TIME,
TIME,
10 Feb. 2025
-
While Castillo was thrilling the crowd with his shots from 3-point range, Gaidukevicius delivered three bring-the-house-down dunks.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near tantalize
Cite this Entry
“Tantalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tantalize. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share