as in tempting
having a strong power to provoke or hold interest
The menu included a selection of tantalizing desserts.
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as in intriguing
to cause (someone) to feel interest or excitement about something that is very attractive, appealing, etc.
She was tantalized by the possibility of earning a lot of money quickly.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tantalizing
Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 2 Dec. 2025
Negotiating one deal with Ukraine and then another with Russia, then hoping the two get close enough to hold, provides the tantalizing illusion of progress, but in practice leads nowhere.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 28 Nov. 2025
Dan Duggan, New York Times, 3 Dec. 2025
The sheer size of the Chinese market has long been tantalizing to Western consumer brands like Starbucks.
—Phil Wahba, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tantalizing
Adjective
García, boasting a tantalizing blend of tools, broke out with the Rangers in 2021 during his age-28 season and averaged 32 homers and 17 steals with a 113 OPS+ from 2021-23.
—Verb
The rest of the class has either plateaued or regressed in Year 2, aside from some tantalizing flashes from fourth-round tight end Theo Johnson.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for tantalizing
Adjective
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The details of Cooper’s crime seemed too tempting to McNally, a high school dropout turned military-airplane electrician who’d pursued odd jobs and scams since being discharged.—
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Given all of this, alternative modes of transportation will be tempting for some, but driving is an unappealing prospect, especially given toll hikes are on the horizon.—
Verb
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Our guide to the best upcoming sci-fi movies in 2026 features a blockbuster mix of popular franchises, intriguing one-offs, and one of the greatest directors of all time heading back to alien visitation territory.—
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New York has intriguing young outfielders in Jasson Domínguez and Spencer jones, but Bellinger was the team's second best player in the lineup this season.—
Verb
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Based on Agatha Christie’s thrilling mystery, the upcoming Netflix series of the same name is a detective story about a sleuth who investigates a prank gone tragically wrong.—
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The concept of being on a set is as thrilling as being on tour where everyone who’s there is there for a reason.—
Verb
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For Harrington and her husband Dante, the thought of triplets was shocking but exciting all the same.—
Cite this Entry
“Tantalizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tantalizing. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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