tickle

verb

Definition of ticklenext
1
as in to itch

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2
as in to excite

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of tickle There are also a few other flavors that might tickle your fancy. — Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 30 May 2026 As mentioned, Kate is a gifted musician herself and has tickled the ivories at several public appearances, including her annual Christmas carol service. — Tessa Petak, InStyle, 23 May 2026 The woozy, choppily edited party sequence, featuring lots of handheld, cellphone-style footage and glassy slow-motion interludes, clearly illustrates the camaraderie and profound affection between the five main characters, who tease and tickle one another like sportive, overgrown puppies. — Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026 Crisp lemonade, frozen strawberries, and club soda blend up into a bubbly, effervescent drink that'll tickle your nose and your taste buds. — Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tickle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tickle
  1. itch
  2. excite
  3. tingle
  4. amuse
  5. sting
  6. titillate
  7. bore
  8. satiate
Verb
  • While he's helped run his family's restaurant in Baltimore County for many years, he's been itching to start up his own.
    — Dennis Valera, CBS News, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Although not the prohibitive favorite in the SEC, the Tide are still College Football Playoff contenders and are itching for some payback.
    — Andre C. Fernandez, Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of itch
Verb
  • Lee said during the news conference introducing Luiz that the team’s medium-term projection excited him greatly.
    — Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Ndiaye in particular has excited fans and could be a shrewd addition.
    — Sam Lee, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of excite
Verb
  • Paper menus allow diners to tick off orders of lip-tingling laab, luscious khao soi, and juicy pomelo salad, feeling like a never-ending invitation to add just one more course.
    — The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Those include numbness and tingling around the mouth and fingertips, trouble walking, talking or swallowing, sometimes weakness in the upper or lower extremity, balance issues or struggles with episodic memory.
    — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of tingle
Verb
  • Horgan ended up incorporating some of those videos—AI slop of dogs blowing up houses with laser beam eyes, for instance—which amused Murphy.
    — Joy Press, Vanity Fair, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Students were especially amused that AI had John Singer, who acts as a hub connecting all the other characters, speaking on a variety of subjects.
    — Billy J. Stratton, The Conversation, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of amuse
Verb
  • As a young Black woman, the betrayal stung as much as a rejection by any guy.
    — Sarah Jones, Vogue, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The bugs, particularly ticks, ants, mosquitoes and stinging insects, are going to take full advantage thanks to warmer temperatures, according to the National Pest Management Associations (NPMA)'s biannual Bug Barometer®.
    — Alora Bopray, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of sting
Verb
  • Brands today need nuance to be titillating—nudity and provocation are too available.
    — José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 2 Sep. 2026
  • So there’s a lot for Mark to be titillated by in that moment.
    — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of titillate
Verb
  • As its name suggests, the beetle bores into trees, drilling tunnels to create breeding galleries.
    — Jack Bantock, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Needless to say, Parker and Stone quickly got bored with the subject, adding a subplot that saw Obama teaming up with his apparent nemesis John McCain to dig a tunnel from the Oval Office to the Smithsonian and steal the Hope Diamond.
    — Damon Wise, Deadline, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of bore
Verb
  • Cabeca likes to follow a keto diet and said the healthy fats keep her satiated while the protein supports her muscles and hormones.
    — Cathy Cassata, HEALTH, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The robust menu aims to satiate hungry tourists who’ve spent long hours pounding the black sampietrini cobblestones of the vast open-air museum that is the Eternal City.
    — Alexandra Kirkman, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of satiate

Browse Nearby Words

ticking off
tickle
tickled
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Cite this Entry

“Tickle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tickle. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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