Tantalize

tantalize
    v 1: 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},
         {tantalize}, {tantalise}, {bait}, {taunt}, {twit}, {rally},
         {ride}]
    

Tantalize \Tan"ta*lize\, 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]
    

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