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

But Kayla resisted the temptation to call him. —Nashville Tennessean, 4 Dec. 2025

Moses led the Israelites through the desert for 40 years before reaching the Promised Land, and Jesus endured 40 days of fasting and temptation in the wilderness. —Andrew Gilbert, Mercury News, 1 Dec. 2025

The final whistle mercifully sounded, and the Snapdragon Stadium crowd – much of which resisted the temptation to get a head start on traffic – stood and honored the expansion club with a heartfelt ovation. —Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Nov. 2025

But there are certain periods of life where saving is much harder, and the temptation is to live an ascetic lifestyle, scrimp, and deny yourself all joys. —NPR, 25 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