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