tantalize /ˈtæntəlaɪz/ verb2 •To tease (someone) by offering or showing them something desirable but leaving them unsatisfied.They could not bear to be tantalized nor tortured by the splendid delusion. — 1880 •(no longer used) To be teased by something desirable that is kept out of reach.The poore people in Corinth did see, and smell, vvhat the rich men tasted, Tantalizing all the vvhile, and having their penury doubled by the Antiperistasis of others plenty[…] — 1640 formstantalized · tantalizing · tantalizes