tantalize
UK: ˈtæntəlaɪz | US: ˈtæntəlaɪz
vt. to tease or torment someone by showing something desirable but keeping it out of reach
vt. to excite hopes or desires that are repeatedly disappointed
tantalize = Tantal<name from Greek myth> + ize<verb-forming suffix>
- Tantal (from Greek Tantalos, a mythological king punished by being eternally tempted with unreachable food and water)
- ize (suffix meaning "to make" or "to act like," from Greek -izein)
Etymology Origin:
The word originates from the Greek myth of Tantalus, a king condemned to stand in a pool of water beneath fruit-laden branches. Whenever he reached for the fruit or bent to drink, they receded, leaving him in perpetual frustration. The verb tantalize was coined in the 16th century to describe the act of teasing someone with unattainable desires, mirroring Tantalus's torment.
The smell of freshly baked bread tantalized the hungry shoppers.
The trailer tantalized fans with glimpses of the upcoming movie.
She tantalized him with hints about her surprise but refused to reveal it.
The distant sound of laughter tantalized the lonely traveler.
The unreachable prize only served to tantalize the competitors further.