tempt

verb

ˈtem(p)t How to pronounce tempt (audio)
Definition of temptnext
1
as in to lure
to lead away from a usual or proper course by offering some pleasure or advantage that chocolate dessert sure tempts me, but I should stick with my diet

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to risk
to take a chance on refusing to lay in enough food for the long winter tempts the dangers of starvation

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb tempt differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of tempt are decoy, entice, inveigle, lure, and seduce. While all these words mean "to lead astray from one's true course," tempt implies the presenting of an attraction so strong that it overcomes the restraints of conscience or better judgment.

tempted by the offer of money

When would decoy be a good substitute for tempt?

The words decoy and tempt are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, decoy implies a luring into entrapment by artifice.

attempting to decoy the enemy into an ambush

When is it sensible to use entice instead of tempt?

While the synonyms entice and tempt are close in meaning, entice suggests drawing by artful or adroit means.

advertising designed to entice new customers

When is inveigle a more appropriate choice than tempt?

The words inveigle and tempt can be used in similar contexts, but inveigle implies enticing by cajoling or flattering.

fund-raisers inveigling wealthy alumni

When could lure be used to replace tempt?

Although the words lure and tempt have much in common, lure implies a drawing into danger, evil, or difficulty through attracting and deceiving.

lured naive investors with get-rich-quick schemes

When can seduce be used instead of tempt?

The synonyms seduce and tempt are sometimes interchangeable, but seduce implies a leading astray by persuasion or false promises.

seduced by assurances of assistance

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 tempt While Trump might be tempted therefore to simply ignore those critics, the Yemen crisis is a golden opportunity for his administration to advance and strengthen an important ... —Julian Ku, National Review, 23 Mar. 2025 The senior shortstop has put on 25 pounds of muscle since September, and those who haven’t seen him in a while might be tempted to do a double take. —Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 20 Mar. 2025 My law school friends are scattered around the country now, but I’m tempted to revive our old tradition with a bracket for the next season of The Great British Baking Show. —Jamie Harrow, People.com, 20 Mar. 2025 Just be sure they're not too tempted to eat only gummy worms for breakfast! —Kimberly Stoney, Parents, 19 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for tempt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tempt
  1. lure
  2. risk
  3. seduce
  4. entice
  5. persuade
  6. betray
Verb
  • In Germany, phony emails containing QR codes lured eBanking customers to malicious websites under the guise of reviewing privacy policy updates to their accounts.
    — David G.W. Birch, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025
  • Most parents are looking for ways to lure their children away from TV and iPads.
    — Emily Edlynn, Parents, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of lure
Verb
  • Under Bar, the Shin Bet started an investigation into claims that aides to Netanyahu were working with Qatar to bolster the Gulf state's image, possibly risking state secrets.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 1 Apr. 2025
  • The Democratic Party on Monday asked a U.S. court to block Republican President Donald Trump's executive order overhauling the election system, arguing the changes risked denying eligible U.S. citizens the right to vote.
    — Luc Cohen, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2025
Definition of risk
Verb
  • Single women—more likely, naturally, to be seduced by the devil—were disproportionately executed for witchcraft.
    — Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 2 Apr. 2025
  • Taking over a century-old garden house hidden within Shanghai’s storied alleys, Samuel Gui Yang softly partitioned the space, seducing the audience yet making every one of them a clandestine voyeur.
    — Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 1 Apr. 2025
Definition of seduce
Verb
  • One reason is that in order to entice people to buy its stock, a company needs to offer potential shareholders something in return.
    — Jenny Van Leeuwen Harrington, CNBC, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Those touches are some of the reasons that entice fans to buy from brands.
    — John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of entice
Verb
  • Again, this is a case of humans using AI to persuade people to adopt their views rather than an indication that AI is extreme or prone to suggesting extreme ideas and behaviors.
    — Bernard Marr, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Last week, Meta’s chief executive, Mark Zuckerberg, was at the White House to try to persuade the administration to settle the Federal Trade Commission’s antitrust lawsuit against Meta.
    — Cecilia Kang, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of persuade
Verb
  • What followed was a shocking turn of events, as Cena, fresh from winning the Men's Elimination Chamber and securing a WrestleMania title shot against Rhodes, betrayed his long-standing heroic persona and launched a brutal attack on Rhodes.
    — Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Platitudes about free expression betray a deliberate ignorance of human psychology.
    — David Robert Grimes, Scientific American, 3 Apr. 2025
Definition of betray

Browse Nearby Words

temps
tempt
temptable
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Cite this Entry

“Tempt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tempt. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025.

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