1
as in seduction
the pressure to give in to a desire for easy or immediate pleasure
he felt the temptation to go sailing, but did his chores instead
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in lure
something that persuades one to perform an action for pleasure or gain
money, power, and other overwhelming temptations can seduce a person to a life of crime
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 temptation
Robert Kagan: Trump is facing a catastrophic defeat in Ukraine
Europeans and Americans, Democrats and Republicans, can resist the temptations of boredom and distraction.
—
Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 24 Feb. 2025
But other farmers are giving in to the temptation for cash in hand without delay, quietly selling outside of the cooperative structure.
—Peter S. Goodman, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2025
Yet these gains could vanish if Trump succumbs to the perennial second-term temptation of foreign policy overreach.
—Matthew Continetti, National Review, 22 Feb. 2025
An 11-year-old child is not emotionally equipped to choose between their parents or the temptations of the internet.
—Jann Blackstone, Chicago Tribune, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for temptation
Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 24 Feb. 2025
But other farmers are giving in to the temptation for cash in hand without delay, quietly selling outside of the cooperative structure.
—Peter S. Goodman, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2025
Yet these gains could vanish if Trump succumbs to the perennial second-term temptation of foreign policy overreach.
—Matthew Continetti, National Review, 22 Feb. 2025
An 11-year-old child is not emotionally equipped to choose between their parents or the temptations of the internet.
—Jann Blackstone, Chicago Tribune, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for temptation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for temptation
Noun
-
The quintessential vampire is instantly recognizable not just from his jet-black widow’s peak, association with bats, and black-and-red cape, but also from his well-mannered nature and unique powers of hypnosis and seduction.—
Celia Mattison,
Vulture,
27 Dec. 2024
-
Yet jewelers are hardly the only ones who have fallen prey to the snake’s powers of seduction.—
Victoria Gomelsky,
New York Times,
13 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
The lure to escape with a special someone is strong when the moon activates Neptune.—
USA TODAY,
USA TODAY,
22 Feb. 2025
-
Stevenson, who will receive the award April 24, graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in journalism, but the lure of golf was too strong to ignore.—
Steve Metsch,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
New state and federal incentives will pay the bulk of the cost for the upgrade, making this an even more cost-effective choice.—
Ben Roush,
Baltimore Sun,
9 Mar. 2025
-
Working with multiple carriers unlocked access to more incentives, bonuses and rewards.—
David Price,
Forbes,
7 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Temptation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/temptation. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share