Tantalize vs Repel - What's the difference?
tantalize | repel |
to tease (someone) by offering something desirable but keeping it out of reach
to bait (someone) by showing something desirable but leaving them unsatisfied
* , II.3.7:
To reject, put off (a request, demand etc.).
To ward off (a malignant influence, attack etc.).
To drive back (an assailant, advancing force etc.).
* 2011 , Ian Traynor, The Guardian , 19 May 2011:
(physics) To force away by means of a repulsive force.
To cause repulsion, cause dislike.
* 2008 , The Guardian , 26 Jan 2008:
(sports) To save (a shot).
* {{quote-news, year=2011, date=December 10, author=David Ornstein, work=BBC Sport
, title=
As verbs the difference between tantalize and repel
is that tantalize is to tease (someone) by offering something desirable but keeping it out of reach while repel is .tantalize
English
Verb
(tantaliz)Quotations
* 1880 — *: They could not bear to be tantalized nor tortured by the splendid delusion. * 1884 — , section 22 *: All pleasures palled upon me; all sights tantalized and tempted me to outspoken treason, because I could not but compare what I saw in Two Dimensions with what it really was if seen in Three, and could hardly refrain from making my comparisons aloud. * 1895 — , Ch. XV *: He had been possessed of much fear of his friend, for he saw how easily questionings could make holes in his feelings. Lately, he had assured himself that the altered comrade would not tantalize him with a persistent curiosity, but he felt certain that during the first period of leisure his friend would ask him to relate his adventures of the previous day. * *: “It was—simply amazing,” she repeated abstractedly. “But I swore I wouldn’t tell it and here I am tantalizing you.” * 1936 — , Ch. IX *: As we threaded our dim way through the labyrinth with the aid of map and compass ... we were repeatedly tantalized by the sculptured walls along our route. ... If we had had more films, we would certainly have paused briefly to photograph certain bas-reliefs, but time-consuming hand-copying was clearly out of the question.repel
English
Verb
(repell)- It is some satisfaction to him that is repelled , that dignities, honours, offices, are not alwayes given by desert or worth, but for love, affinitie, friendship, affection, great mens letters, or as commonly they are bought and sold.
- In nearby Zintan, rebels repelled an advance by Gaddafi's forces, killing eight and taking one prisoner, a local activist said.
- However, while the idea of a free holiday appeals enormously, I am frankly repelled by the idea of spending a couple of weeks in your company.
Arsenal 1-0 Everton, passage=Arsenal pressed forward again after half-time but other than a venomous Walcott shot that Howard repelled with a fine one-handed save, the hosts offered little cutting edge.}}