tempting

adjective

tempt·​ing ˈtem(p)-tiŋ How to pronounce tempting (audio)
: having an appeal : enticing
a tempting offer
temptingly adverb

Examples of tempting in a Sentence

The desserts look very tempting. It is tempting to think of him as the next American president.
Recent Examples on the Web Eliminating food waste is a focus for The Lana's executive chef Oliver Jackson, who has done away with breakfast buffets and ensures that guests are greeted with only the most tempting, top-grade fruit selection in their rooms. Chrissie McClatchie, Travel + Leisure, 5 Mar. 2024 This promising new home community seamlessly blends the expertise of some of the city’s finest homebuilders, a tempting array of amenities, competitive pricing, and the coveted allure of a southern Overland Park address. Prime Development, Kansas City Star, 3 Mar. 2024 While quick wins are tempting, focusing on strategic opportunities can lead to greater long-term success. Stoyan Mitov, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 America’s election may also be a tempting target for other authoritarian nations such as China and Iran that, like Russia, have shown a willingness to use online propaganda and disinformation to further their objectives. David Klepper, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Mar. 2024 The Cost of Success: Buying a small-town club offers a tempting entry to ownership in English soccer. Rory Smith, New York Times, 1 Mar. 2024 Deemed too tempting for students to turn to AI to complete the work, the English professor now hands out physical copies of readings and asks students to underline and analyze the text by hand. Kelly Meyerhofer, Journal Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2024 One reason our snooze button is always so tempting to push is that no one wants to exchange restful slumber for all the responsibilities and demands of yet another day. Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2024 Avoidance can be incredibly tempting during times of heartache, but facing reality is the first step towards healing. Mark Travers, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tempting.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

from present participle of tempt

First Known Use

1588, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tempting was in 1588

Dictionary Entries Near tempting

Cite this Entry

“Tempting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tempting. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

tempting

adjective
tempt·​ing ˈtem(p)-tiŋ How to pronounce tempting (audio)
: having a strong attraction
the food all looked tempting
temptingly adverb
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!