Definition

Adjective: 1. Feeling mild pleasurable excitement: Experiencing a gentle, enjoyable state of anticipation or arousal, often in a playful or flirtatious context.

Usage

The adjective "teased" describes a person's emotional state. It is typically used with a linking verb like "feel," "was," or "looked." It often implies the feeling results from playful provocation or anticipation.

Examples

• She felt teased and excited by his mysterious hints about the surprise.
• After their flirtatious conversation, he was left feeling pleasantly teased.
• The audience was teased by the preview of the upcoming film.

Advanced Usage

• "teased and tantalized": Often used together to emphasize a mix of playful provocation and strong desire. This is a common collocation.
  • The chef teased and tantalized our taste buds with small samples before the main course.

Variants and Related Words

• Tease (verb): To playfully provoke or make fun of someone; to tantalize.
  • He likes to tease his sister about her favorite pop star.
• Teasing (adjective/noun): Playfully provocative; the act of teasing.
  • She gave him a teasing smile. (adjective)
  • The constant teasing from his friends was all in good fun. (noun)
• Teaser (noun): Something designed to arouse curiosity or interest, like a short preview.
  • The studio released a teaser trailer for the new movie.

Synonyms

• Tantalized
• Titillated
• Aroused (in a mild, non-sexual sense)
• Tickled (figuratively)

Antonyms

• Bored
• Unmoved
• Indifferent

Notes

The adjective "teased" is less common than the verb form "to tease." It specifically describes the resulting feeling in the person who is the object of the teasing, not the person performing the action. It carries a positive connotation of enjoyable anticipation.

Adjective

1. feeling mild pleasurable excitement