English · Word Candidate

teasing

/ˈtiːz.ɪŋ/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: teasings

Sense 1

Meaning · English

The act of harassing someone playfully or maliciously, especially by ridicule; provoking someone with persistent annoyances; making fun of, making light of someone.

Noun

Examples

Teasing can be seen as a kind of workplace abuse.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

The act of removing tangles from one's hair with a comb.

Noun

Examples

The teasing of her curls took nearly an hour with the fine-tooth comb.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

Playfully vexing, especially by ridicule.

Adjective

Examples

The children exchanged teasing remarks during recess.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 4

Meaning · English

Arousing sexual desire without intending to satisfy it.

Adjective

Examples

The actress gave him a teasing glance before walking away.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “teasing” mean?

The act of harassing someone playfully or maliciously, especially by ridicule; provoking someone with persistent annoyances; making fun of, making light of someone.

Is “teasing” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.