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
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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
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Recent Examples of temptation
Brendan McDermid | Reuters BlackRock CEO Larry Fink urged investors to resist the temptation to time markets, arguing that staying invested through periods of turmoil has historically delivered far stronger returns.
—
Yun Li, CNBC, 23 Mar. 2026
The temptation to consolidate power and move quickly exists for any majority, Republican or Democrat.
—State Sen. Tony Hwang, Hartford Courant, 22 Mar. 2026
The conversation heightened Hardaway’s temptation to pick Denver among a handful of suitors in free agency.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 22 Mar. 2026
In years without a hurricane, there can be temptation by investors to take the money left over after reinsurance as profit, according to Dan Tighe, an attorney who represents claimants against insurance companies.
—Scott Pham, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for temptation
Yun Li, CNBC, 23 Mar. 2026
The temptation to consolidate power and move quickly exists for any majority, Republican or Democrat.
—State Sen. Tony Hwang, Hartford Courant, 22 Mar. 2026
The conversation heightened Hardaway’s temptation to pick Denver among a handful of suitors in free agency.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 22 Mar. 2026
In years without a hurricane, there can be temptation by investors to take the money left over after reinsurance as profit, according to Dan Tighe, an attorney who represents claimants against insurance companies.
—Scott Pham, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for temptation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for temptation
Noun
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So, who was it from our universe that would be most susceptible to that kind of messaging, or who would find the seductions of the power offered by that the most compelling?—
Chris O'Falt,
IndieWire,
3 Mar. 2026
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So with seduction or intimacy, there's also concern that the quality of the information that comes out of these sort of attempts is not necessarily as robust.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The mystery is the game’s lure, the unpredictability a big part of its appeal.—
Ken Rosenthal,
New York Times,
25 Mar. 2026
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There are no worms in it, though viral video plays a part, and fame — the pursuit of which is a subject — is a lure.—
Television Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
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In this environment, there is little incentive for Netanyahu to push up the election date, said Yohanan Plesner, president of the Israel Democracy Institute, a Jerusalem think tank.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
22 Mar. 2026
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The Air Pollution Control Exemption Act allows the State Tax Commission to provide incentives for companies that add pollution control equipment to their operations.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
22 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Temptation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/temptation. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
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