tantalise
To tease someone by showing them something they want but cannot have.
tantalise in a sentence
- The smell of fresh doughnuts tantalised the children waiting in the queue.
- The toyshop window seemed to tantalise us, packed with things we longed for but could not buy.
Try an 11+ style question
Verbal reasoning papers often ask about a word like this.
Which word is closest in meaning to tantalise?
- Aplease
- Bcomfort
- Ctease
- Dsatisfy
Show the answer
C: tease. The other three mean the opposite of tantalise.
Which word is most nearly opposite in meaning to tantalise?
- Atease
- Btempt
- Csatisfy
- Dlure
Show the answer
C: satisfy. The other three mean nearly the same as tantalise.
Words that mean something similar
tease, tempt, lure
Words that mean the opposite
satisfy, please, comfort
Careful: tantalise is not lure
Lure tempts someone to come closer. Tantalise teases them with something just out of reach. Read why children mix them up.
More words about emotions & feelings
- temptation: A strong wish to do something, especially something you know you shouldn't.
- tender: Gentle, loving and soft.
- torment: To cause a person or animal great suffering or annoyance, often again and again.
- trepidation: A nervous, fearful feeling about something that is going to happen.
- triumph: A great victory or success.
- turmoil: A state of great confusion and upset.
- twinge: A sudden short pain or unpleasant feeling.
- unnerve: To make someone lose their confidence or feel worried.
More words to explore
Sitting the 11+ in Kent, Medway or Buckinghamshire?
Plain-English guides to each test, from the councils’ own pages: Kent Test · Medway Test · Bucks Secondary Transfer Test