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

tantalize \tan"talize\, 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
see also:
tantalized tantalizing tantalus tantalize disappoint 

[2] : WordNet (r) 2.0

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
see also:
tease razz rag cod tantalise bait 
taunt twit rally ride 

[3] : Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0

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

Tantalize >> T Words
Tantalize, definition of term: Tantalize
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