TANTALIZING

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does tantalizing mean? 

• TANTALIZING (adjective)
  The adjective TANTALIZING has 2 senses:

1. arousing desire or expectation for something unattainable or mockingly out of reach

2. very pleasantly inviting

  Familiarity information: TANTALIZING used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• TANTALIZING (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Arousing desire or expectation for something unattainable or mockingly out of reach

Synonyms:

tantalising; tantalizing

Context example:

a tantalizing taste of success

Similar:

inviting (attractive and tempting)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Very pleasantly inviting

Synonyms:

tantalising; tantalizing; tempting

Context example:

a tempting repast

Similar:

inviting (attractive and tempting)

 Context examples 

The plumes provide a tantalizing opportunity to gather samples originating from under the surface without having to land or drill through the ice.

(Possible Water Plumes on Jupiter's Moon Europa, NASA)

Using NASA’s Hubble and Kepler space telescopes, astronomers have uncovered tantalizing evidence of what could be the first discovery of a moon orbiting a planet outside our solar system.

(Astronomers Find First Evidence of Possible Moon Outside Our Solar System, NASA)

Steerforth was considerate, too; and showed his consideration, in one particular instance, in an unflinching manner that was a little tantalizing, I suspect, to poor Traddles and the rest.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Remains of bizarre relatives of early crocodiles, the oldest evidence for "insect farming," and tantalizing clues about the early evolution of monkeys and apes have been found.

(New dinosaur with heart-shaped tail offers clues to evolution of Africa's ecosystems, National Science Foundation)

The possibility that intermediate mass black holes exist but are currently hidden from our view is both tantalizing and frustrating, according to Deidre Shoemaker of Georgia Tech, a co-author of the paper.

(Observing 'black hole symphony' using gravitational wave astronomy, National Science Foundation)

He was afflicted always with a gnawing restlessness, more tantalizing than in the old days before he possessed her love; for now that he did possess her love, the possession of her was far away as ever.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

But her faith in the good spot which exists in the heart of the naughtiest, sauciest, most tantalizing little ragamuffin gave her patience, skill, and in time success, for no mortal boy could hold out long with Father Bhaer shining on him as benevolently as the sun, and Mother Bhaer forgiving him seventy times seven.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

An occasional dinner at Ruth's helped to keep strength in his body, though he found it tantalizing enough to refuse further helping when his appetite was raging at sight of so much food spread before it.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

"It was—simply amazing," she repeated abstractedly. "But I swore I wouldn't tell it and here I am tantalizing you."

(The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald)