temptation

noun

temp·​ta·​tion tem(p)-ˈtā-shən 

1

: the act of tempting or the state of being tempted especially to evil : enticement

2

: something tempting : a cause or occasion of enticement

Synonyms of temptation

• seduction
• lure

Examples of temptation in a Sentence

Money is always a temptation.

The dessert menu has a lot of delicious temptations.

the temptations of the city

Recent Examples on the Web

So there's some serious temptation to fall back to old habits when they're critter-napped by a new crew called the Bad Girls and conned into stealing an experimental rocket. —Brian Truitt, USA Today, 21 Nov. 2025

First, leaders face a temptation to paper over differences and exaggerate the convergence of interests, especially when helping to defend a close partner against brutal aggression. —Rebecca Lissner, Foreign Affairs, 14 Nov. 2025

With their place in next summer’s tournament already confirmed, this game was a chance for England’s players to make their case to Thomas Tuchel, who resisted the temptation to put Jude Bellingham back into the starting XI, sticking with Morgan Rogers in the No 10 role. —Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 13 Nov. 2025

That can lead to the temptation to rearrange or even manipulate. —David Bauder, Fortune, 12 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English temptacioun "testing, enticement to sin," borrowed from Anglo-French tentacion, borrowed from Late Latin temptātiōn-, temptātiō "enticement to sin," going back to Latin, "attempt, attack," from temptāre "to feel, test, attempt, make an assault on, attack" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at tempt

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for temptation

• ablation
• bination
• carnation
• cassation
• castration
• causation
• centration
• cessation
• cetacean
• chelation
• citation
• collation

Kids Definition

temptation

noun

temp·​ta·​tion tem(p)-ˈtā-shən 

1

: the act of tempting : the state of being tempted especially to evil

2

: something tempting