TANTALIZING
tantalizing, tantalising, tempting
(adjective) very pleasantly inviting; “a tantalizing aroma”; “a tempting repast”
tantalizing, tantalising
(adjective) arousing desire or expectation for something unattainable or mockingly out of reach; “a tantalizing taste of success”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Adjective
tantalizing (comparative more tantalizing, superlative most tantalizing)
Teasing; tempting, especially that which is beyond reach.
Verb
tantalizing
present participle of tantalize
Noun
tantalizing (plural tantalizings)
teasing temptation
Source: Wiktionary
TANTALIZE
Tan"ta*lize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Tantalized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Tantalizing.] Etym: [From Tantalus: cf. F. tantaliser.]
Definition: To tease or torment by presenting some good to the view and
exciting desire, but continually frustrating the expectations by
keeping that good out of reach; to tease; to torment.
Thy vain desires, at strife Within themselves, have tantalized thy
life. Dryden.
Syn.
– To tease; vex; irritate; provoke.
– Tantalize, Disappoint. To disappoint is literally to do away with
what was (or was taken to be) appointed; hence the peculiar pain from
hopes thus dashed to the ground. To tantalize, a much stronger term,
describes a most distressing form of disappointment, as in the case
of Tantalus, the Phrygian king. To tantalize is to visit with the
bitterest disappointment -- to torment by exciting hopes or
expectations which can never be realized.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition