tantalize Meaning, Definition & Usage

verb harass with persistent criticism or carping
rag; razz; bait; twit; taunt; ride; tease; cod; rally; tantalise.
- 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

From Tantalus: cf. F. tantaliser.

imperfect & past participle Tantalized ; present participle & verbal noun Tantalizing

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.