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

• allurement
• enticement
• lure
• seduction

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

Defensive tackle Ed Oliver will be only 28 in 2026, but the team did just draft Sanders and has a potential out from Oliver’s deal in 2027, yielding $13 million in cap space that year, which might persuade them to resist the temptation of taking away some of that flexibility. —Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 19 May 2025

The temptation among Democratic lawmakers will be to hunt for new revenue. —The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 2025

Resist the temptation to compete solely on price during challenging economic periods. —David Zybin, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025

The temptation is real – glitzy late-night parties, then early-bird meetings; but remember the Festival is a marathon, not a sprint. —Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 13 May 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